Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology receive $81,000 contribution from AT&T for equipment for student information-technology training programs

AT&T has contributed $81,000 to the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology to buy new equipment for student training programs in computer information technology.

The contribution will provide up to $3,000 for each of the 27 technical colleges across the state to purchase network storage units and hard disk drives, which will give students more opportunities to learn the skills they need in cloud computing, systems administration and network backups.

The Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology are institutions in the College System of Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings expressed gratitude to AT&T for the contribution.

“AT&T is a tremendous supporter of public higher education. Our information technology students across the state will benefit from the training they’ll receive on this state-of-the-art equipment made possible by the company. The Board of Regents and our technical college presidents and students are grateful for the AT&T’s generosity,” Tydings said.

“We are delighted to support Tennessee students who are acquiring the skills they need to enter the workforce,” said Joelle Phillips, president of AT&T Tennessee.  “As the need for IT personnel surges, the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology are helping students develop the critical skills required to enter the workforce and find good jobs right here in Tennessee.”

The equipment will help IT students learn such essential skills as how to successfully recover from a data disaster, practice implementation of recovery plans and earn various programming certifications.  The equipment will be ordered this month, instructors will be trained on it in early October and student access will begin in late October.

“The need for IT personnel to be trained is crucial to the economic development of businesses and industries in Tennessee, especially in the areas of securing data, and preventing and recovering from cybercrimes,” said Dr. Carol Puryear, TBR vice chancellor for economic and community development. “Training with professional grade equipment, provided by AT&T, will help our students develop critical skills needed in industry today. We are most appreciative of the contribution and the dollars will be used to strengthen our IT graduates.”