CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION ( CITE )
• CITE is designed to meet the urgent need for more technical support staff for rapidly growing and changing industries .
• The facility will feature labs that can be easily configured to provide students with the access to software used by high-tech employers .
• The approach will bring together cutting-edge equipment , course work and students working in teams to simulate working environments and the best practices used by industry .
• Importantly , training can be tailored to the specific needs of individual companies , giving them a go-to place to expand their workforce and provide continuing education for existing staffs .
• It can also help start-ups get their footing as they begin building their technical teams .
• “ It ’ s a unique facility that will stand out in Central Florida for what it can accomplish in a host of fields ,” said Richey .
• In a sign of CITE ’ s importance , NASA and more than 50 companies wrote letters of support to the Legislature for the project .
• They included Lockheed Martin , Boeing , Blue Origin , Northrup Grumman and OneWeb Satellites .
• In all , CITE will support students in 16 college programs focused on aerospace , computer technology , engineering , and advanced manufacturing where students can earn Bachelor Degrees , Associate Degrees and College Certificates .
• The 36,500-square-foot building will be located on the corner of Wickham Road and Post Road . It is expected to open its doors in 2024 .
• CITE will be the final new academic building to rise on the campus under the college ’ s 10-year expansion plan for Melbourne that was unveiled in 2014 .
• The other new buildings and the years they opened are the Public Safety Institute in 2014 and Health Sciences Institute in 2017 . A new Student Union opened in 2019 and a new Student Residence hall in 2020 , with construction underway on second unit .
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