Wichita State University’s Department of Engineering Technology has secured a significant milestone in robotics education, earning an endorsement from the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing Institute (ARM) for its mechatronics track. This recognition places the program among the first in the nation to achieve such status, signaling to industry that its graduates possess a targeted, high-value skillset aligned with modern manufacturing needs.
The ARM endorsement is awarded based on three benchmark criteria: relevance to industry, efficiency of training, and program impact. Dr. Gary Brooking, chair and teaching professor of engineering technology at Wichita State, emphasized the distinction this brings to graduates. “It certifies that our instruction is at a national level of competency, and that the graduates that are coming out of the mechatronics program have a certain set of skills that are appropriate to this industry,” he said. Brooking noted that while a bachelor’s degree signals broad academic achievement, the endorsement specifies mastery in robotics, giving employers clearer insight into a candidate’s capabilities.
The ARM Institute operates as the nation’s leading collaborative in robotics and workforce innovation, uniting industry, government, and academia in a public-private partnership. Its mission is to accelerate robotic technologies and education solutions that bolster the U.S. industrial base and enhance manufacturing resiliency. This alignment ensures that endorsed programs meet the practical demands of evolving production environments, where automation and robotics are increasingly integral.
The inaugural cohort of ARM-endorsed institutions spans multiple educational levels: Wichita State as a four-year university, WSU Tech as a technical college, and Horizon Science Academy, a high school in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in STEM education. These programs will be prominently featured on http://www.roboticscareer.org, a federally funded online database designed to connect students and workers with leading robotics education opportunities tailored for manufacturing careers.
Linda Wood, senior certification manager at the ARM Institute, underscored the value of the endorsement. “The ARM Institute is delighted to recognize these stellar programs and institutions that are doing an outstanding job preparing the manufacturing workforce for robotics and automation jobs,” she said. “Our endorsement program makes it easy for education or job seekers to find the programs that best prepare them for a rewarding career in advanced manufacturing.”
For Wichita State, the endorsement reinforces its role in strengthening the regional talent pipeline. Debra Franklin, associate vice president for Strategic Initiatives, highlighted the practical benefits: “Wichita State’s collaboration with the ARM Institute has enabled WSU and WSU Tech to invest in programs and solutions that support our regional manufacturers’ need for skilled robotics technicians and engineers and make resources available to students and workers on career opportunities in the growing robotics and automation fields.”
Chris Rees, assistant educator in the Department of Engineering Technology, connected the endorsement to the university’s applied learning philosophy. “What we’re doing is getting external bodies endorsing what we do so that our students are coming out more prepared for what industry is looking for,” he said. This approach ensures that graduates are not only academically trained but also industry-ready.
Industry professionals recognize the strategic advantage such certification provides. Curtis Richardson, Technician Fellow for Spirit AeroSystems and Wichita State alumnus, described the endorsement’s impact: “The ARM Institute has established itself as one of the leading organizations in the world of robotics and automation technology. Companies serious about hiring the very best robotics technicians and engineers will recognize their endorsement as an authoritative statement of the quality of the program the students have completed. The ability to point to a third-party endorsement like this that recognizes the industry relevance of their degree should feel confidence that they will stand out amongst their peers when looking for employment.”
The ARM endorsement signals a convergence of academic rigor, industry validation, and workforce readiness. For students pursuing careers in robotics and automation, it represents a credential that speaks directly to employers’ expectations, enhancing both employability and professional credibility.