West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) has been named a 2024 Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE) designee by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.
This prestigious recognition is awarded to institutions that prepare students for careers in the maritime industry. WKCTC is the only institution in Kentucky to receive this year’s designation.
“Your graduates have made outstanding contributions to the industry over the years which is an excellent testimonial to the superior academic and professional education and training they received while attending West Kentucky,” said Ann C. Phillips, Maritime Administrator.
According to OSHA, the maritime industry includes the construction, repair, and scrapping of vessels, as well as the movement of cargo and other materials via waterways.
The (CoE) program recognizes 50 maritime training locations in 44 cities across 17 states and Guam.
“This is the second time WKCTC has been named as a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE) designee, having also been recognized in 2021,” said WKCTC President Anton Reece. “Being named a designee in 2024 is a testament to our ongoing efforts to provide quality education for students in the maritime industry.”
According to WKCTC, as technologies are added and new U.S. Coast Guard regulations are put into place, working on America’s Inland Waterways requires a degree and continuous learning.
You can learn more about WKCTC’s Marine Technology degree here.
Ashley Burns, director of Community, Workforce & Economic Development at WKCTC, said, “This designation demonstrates the excellence and rigor of our academic program, as well as the wide variety and value of our workforce training offerings, many of which are United States Coast Guard approved.”
For additional information and a complete list of (CoE) designees, visit maritime.dot.gov.
For more information about WKCTC, visit westkentucky.kctcs.edu.
