AASP

The Alliance for Automotive Service Providers
The Alliance exists for one reason – to support independent auto service and collision repair shops.

ABYC

American Boat & Yacht Council
The role of the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) is to be the essential source of technical information for the international marine industry.

ACTE

Association for Career and Technical Education
ACTE strives to empower educators to deliver high quality CTE programs that ensure all students are positioned for career success and to provide educational leadership in developing a competitive workforce.

AED

Associated Equipment Distributors
The AED Foundation accredits postsecondary equipment technology programs and recognizes high school diesel technology programs, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of qualified technicians.

ALC

Alternative Learning Center
Alternative education is designed for students who are at-risk in the traditional education environment.

AOPA

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
AOPA fights to protect the freedom to fly while keeping general aviation safe, fun, and affordable.

ASE

National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
ASE is an independent non-profit organization has worked to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals.

ATA

American Trucking Association
ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. We are an 86-year old federation with state trucking association affiliates in all 50 states.

CAAT

Center for Advanced Automotive Technology
Working with educators, industry and government to drive the skills needed for the next generation of automotive technicians, engineering technologists and designers

COE

Minnesota State Centers of Excellence
The centers, each serving a major industry that faces serious workforce challenges, collaborate with industry and educators to attract and prepare students for success in high-demand careers.

CREF

Collision Repair Education Foundation 
CREF supports collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities.

CTE

Career and Technical Education
Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are a sequence of courses that integrates core academic knowledge with technical and occupational knowledge and skills to provide students a pathway to postsecondary education and careers.

DEED

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is the state’s principle economic development agency. DEED’s mission is to enhance the economic success of individuals, businesses and communities by improving opportunities for prosperity and independence

EETC

Equipment & Engine Training Council
The Equipment & Engine Training Council is a non-profit association whose goal is to address the shortage of qualified technicians in the outdoor power equipment industry.

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration
The FAA’s mission is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

FMCSA

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Ensuring safety in motor carrier operations through strong enforcement of safety regulations; targeting high-risk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers; improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; strengthening commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards; and increasing safety awareness.

HLC

Higher Learning Commission
One of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region.

I-CAR

Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair
An international not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the information, knowledge and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs.

MAAE

Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators
The Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators is an organization of teachers of agriculture at the high school, post-secondary, and adult levels who seek to advance agricultural education in Minnesota.

MADA

Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association
Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association is the only advocate for franchised new car and truck dealers in Minnesota providing advocacy, specialized expertise, training and communications. 

MDE

Minnesota Department of Education
The Minnesota Department of Education develops, builds and maintains collaborative relationships with schools, districts and other stakeholders through a wide variety of advisory boards, councils and committees.

Minn. State

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System
A state system of 30 colleges, 7 universities, and 54 campuses to meet Minnesota’s workforce and community needs, and deliver to students, employers, communities and taxpayers the highest value/most affordable higher education option.

MJSP

Minnesota Job Skills Partnership
The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) is committed to extending the state’s educational and training resources so that Minnesota employers have a well-trained and skilled workforce.

MMB

Minnesota Department of Management and Budget
MMB is a state cabinet level agency responsible for coordinating the state finances, accounting and budgeting processes.

MNCARS

Minnesota Careers in Automotive Repair and Service
MNCARS goal is to ensure a future workforce for Minnesota’s automotive service industry by raising awareness and recruiting people into technical college automotive education programs (collision and mechanical) and industry careers.

MnDOT

Minnesota Department of Transportation
Plan, build, operate and maintain a safe, accessible, efficient and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people to destinations and markets throughout the state, regionally and around the world.

MNSCU

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System
Formerly known as MNSCU, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System is comprised of 30 colleges, 7 universities, and 54 campuses.

MPCA

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) monitors environmental quality, offers technical and financial assistance, and enforces environmental regulations. The agency finds and cleans up spills or leaks that can affect our health and environment. Staff develop statewide policy, and support environmental education.

MTA

Minnesota Trucking Association
The MTA is a non-profit trade association started by Minnesota carriers to represent and meet the needs of the Minnesota trucking industry.

MTEEA

Minnesota Technology and Engineering Educators Association
Better teachers for better kids; providing Technology & Engineering educators with professional development, quality resources & best practices.

MTTIA

Midwest Teachers of Transportation and Industrial Areas
To provide professional development for teachers through the enhancement of technical skills and knowledge to better improve student achievement.

NAAE

National Association of Agricultural Educators
A federation of state agricultural educators associations with more than 9,000 members. Our members are involved in school-based agricultural education at any level, from middle school through postsecondary, and state and national agricultural education leadership.

NAPTFDS

National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools
NAPFTDS is committed to providing training programs that earn and maintain public confidence, adhering to sound and ethical business practices. 

NCAT

National Center for Autonomous Technologies
Lead the education of the nation’s Autonomous Technologies workforce through a concerted effort which will focus on expanding educational resources to address current workforce demands, develop career pathways, and broadly engage stakeholders from education, industry, government, and related ATE centers and projects. 

NSF

National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…”

NTSB

National Transportation Safety Board
An independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in other modes of transportation – railroad, highway, marine and pipeline.

OLRC

Online Learning Resource Center
The OLRC is a consolidated source of instructional materials to help secondary and post-secondary educators adapt to the need for ongoing remote or blended instruction.

STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
STEM education provides intentionally designed and linked learning experiences for students to develop and apply understandings of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts and processes.

TCOE

Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence
One of the eight Centers of Excellence that is focused on developing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the current and future needs for high-demand, high-paying, high-growth, high-tech careers in Minnesota’s transportation industries.

TTT

Train-The-Trainer Workshops
These workshops focus on helping teachers gain comfort and knowledge in the trades and STEM related subjects through hands-on experiences and professional relationship building.

WBL

Work-Based Learning
WBL is formalized learning with instruction occurring at the school and at a community-based setting with an employer in the geographical region of the school.

WDS

Workforce Development Scholarships
The Minnesota Legislature has provided funding for hundreds of $2,500 scholarships at the 30 community and technical colleges of Minnesota State in high-demand fields.