Madison College students examine effect of energy drinks

From channel3000.com: “Dentists warn of high acidity in some energy drinks” — MADISON, Wis. – Popular energy drinks claim to give people hours of energy, but dentists said people may be bathing their teeth in acid when they consume energy drinks.

Experiments are shedding new light on some of the most popular energy drinks.

They come in flashy containers, promising a boost to get you through those long days.

“A lot of people really do sit and just drink this stuff,” said Madison College dental hygiene student Alicia Selzler.

But when the jolt runs dry, new research shows, people are left with are serious hazards to their teeth.

“I used to drink these in high school myself,” said Selzler. “And I always wanted to do hygiene, but I never really thought of what this is actually doing to my teeth until I saw this.”

Selzler is no stranger to sugar’s destructive path, but the experiment she’s conducting with her classmates at Madison College examines the acid content of energy drinks.

“The citric acid is the one ingredient that we noticed that if it was listed near the top of the ingredient list, that was one of those solutions we knew we were going to get a low pH,” said Marcy LeFave, Madison College dental hygiene faculty member.

On a pH scale, a reading of 7 is neutral, like water. The lower the number, the more acidic the chemical. Students measured the pH of a variety of drinks. Coffee and milk showed pH scores of around 5 and 6, respectively. Root beer was around 4.

But a sugar-free bottle of Vitamin Water Zero showed a high level of acidity in a test, Selzler said.

“It’s actually Vitamin Water Zero,” said Selzler. “It’s showing a pH of 3.15. So the pH of that product is really, really low.”

The energy drink in the experiment logged a pH close to 3 as well. Battery acid reads -1 on the pH scale.

And with the popularity of these types of drinks, researchers said it’s only a matter of time before a rising number of dentists expend more of their energy on tooth decay.

“The problem is they sip on them throughout the day.” said LeFave. “So they’re constantly bathing their teeth in a solution that is 3.0. We even find some that are 2.5 pH. So we know those are very acidic.”

“I always tell my patients, and I’ve learned from my hygienist and my teachers, if you sip all day, you get decay,” said Selzler, “So this is kind of what we like to show people, the acid and what it’s all doing.”

With sugar, the decay process begins after the sugar reacts with the bacteria in a person’s mouth to produce the acid that eventually gets to his or her teeth. When drinking energy drinks high in citric acid, it skips the sugar-bacteria chemical reaction completely. Researchers said the citric acid could damage a person’s teeth faster.

 

MPTC recognizes staff, partner

From wiscnews.com: “MPTC recognizes staff, partner” — Moraine Park Technical College found many ways to honor career and technical education month, celebrated throughout the nation in February.

One of the ways was through the annual Moraine Park Association of CTE awards banquet, held Feb. 21 at Beaver Dam Country Club.

The banquet recognized individuals and organizations for their dedication to and excellence in career and technical education. The following individuals were honored with awards: Stephanie Lueck of Campbellsport for outstanding support professional; Kathy Vandemark of Kewaskum for outstanding CTE leader; Terri Wilkens of Mayville for outstanding instructor; Amy Patterson of Beaver Dam for new instructor and Bonnie Baerwald of Fond du Lac for community involvement. The Business Awards of Merit went to Kondex Corporation for supporting Moraine Park.

Throughout the year, MPACTE supports student achievement by awarding eight $300 scholarships to full-time Moraine Park students and five $200 scholarships to part-time Moraine Park students. Scholarships are cosponsored by both the Moraine Park Federation of Teachers and the MPACTE organization.

For more information about Moraine Park visit morainepark.edu. For more information on statewide CTE month activities visit witechcolleges.org.

Nicolet College expands welding program

From wjfw.com: “Nicolet College expands welding program” — Rhinelander – Hearing about jobs on the rise can be comforting.

A program expansion at Nicolet College in Rhinelander highlights one of those growing job markets.

They’re expanding their welding program to bring in more students and meet the needs of a growing workforce.

“The need for welders, not only in our district here, but nationwide, is phenomenal,” said welding instructor Chuck Kopp.
Expanding the welding program at Nicolet College is the result of two grants totaling 1.2 million dollars.

“We have accelerated our series of classes so that we can get our students out into jobs sooner, we have upgraded equipment, and hired some new instructors and we’ve re-vamped the curriculum to better meet employer’s needs,” said Elizabeth Burmaster, President of Nicolet College.

Part of that expansion means going from 17 to 23 work stations.

“What they’ll be able to do with them is the same thing they’re doing here now with the booths that are existing, which is all the different processes,” said Kopp.

Kopp says this one year program is helping students get jobs in the Northwoods.

“So this is a response to our manufacturers, to try to satisfy their need for welders and give them the ability to grow their businesses,” said Kopp. 

 

Mobile lab lets LTC bring skills training to students across Northeastern Wisconsin

From wispolitics.com: “Mobile lab lets Lakeshore Technical College bring skills training to students across Northeastern Wisconsin” — CLEVELAND – During a visit this morning to commemorate Lakeshore Technical College’s (LTC) new mobile manufacturing training lab, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch commended the projects’ partners for efforts to connect Wisconsinites from across the region with skills training for jobs that are in demand.

“There are opportunities now to develop skills that we know manufacturers are seeking,” Lt. Governor Kleefisch said. “Communities across Northeastern Wisconsin will reap the economic benefits thanks to approaches like this new mobile training lab to address the skills gap and prepare individuals for good-paying jobs in today’s labor market.”

Lt. Governor Kleefisch joined Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Reggie Newson, Department of Corrections (DOC) Executive Assistant Dennis Schuh, leaders from LTC and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), and private-sector partners to celebrate the completion of the new mobile manufacturing training lab.

The lab, modeled after a similar lab that NWTC and the Bay Area Workforce Development Board jointly launched in 2011, will travel to local high schools in the LTC district to provide on-site training in advanced manufacturing. The training will provide students instruction in industrial maintenance, programmable logic controls, and other components. Students will be able to complete a 5-credit technical college course that can be applied to LTC’s electro-mechanical technology program.

In addition to schools, the lab will also travel to DOC adult institutions in the region to help inmates learn marketable skills that will help them successfully pursue good-paying jobs upon their transition from prison back into the community. The vast majority of prison inmates will complete their prison sentences and one day return to the community. Successful employment is a key factor to help reduce recidivism.

The lab was developed as a partnership between DWD, DOC, Lakeshore and Northeast Wisconsin Technical Colleges, and several partners in the private sector, including Rockwell Automation, Curt G. Joa, Inc., and Plenco.

DOC Secretary Ed Wall said: “We are pleased to partner with Lakeshore Technical College on their mobile lab unit. The lab will give inmates the chance to learn skills that will help them get a job in the community. This partnership provides opportunities for offenders to change their behavior and make Wisconsin a safer place.”

DWD Secretary Newson said the training lab is reflective of the innovative approaches that DWD is taking under Governor Scott Walker’s leadership to address the skills gap and prepare Wisconsin residents for the modern workforce.

The “Wisconsin Fast Forward” bill (AB 14 / SB 23), which Governor Walker wants fast-tracked through the Legislature, would fund the development of a cutting-edge labor market information system, $15 million in worker training grants to be administered by DWD, and 4 positions in an Office of Skills Development to be created at DWD. The legislation is part of a larger $100 million investment in Wisconsin’s workforce that Governor Walker has proposed over the coming biennium.

“Governor Walker has committed significant resources to develop our state’s workforce and provide flexible resources to private-sector job creators,” said DWD Secretary Newson. “DWD and Wisconsin’s technical colleges are close partners in connecting Wisconsin job seekers to training opportunities and, ultimately, good-paying jobs in the private sector. This mobile lab is one more innovation that will empower job seekers to transition into good-paying jobs that promote independence and will help them pursue their dreams.”

Students take CVTC stories to Madison

From chippewa.com: “Students take CVTC stories to Madison” —  When Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) Dental Hygienist program students Randi Johnson and Jordyn Becker talked to state legislators in Madison Tuesday, it wasn’t because they had concerns about lawmakers’ brushing habits. They wanted the people who hold the state purse strings to know what a technical education is doing for them, and how it has them reaching out to the community.

“We have to do 100 hours of community service before we can graduate,” said Johnson, of Eau Claire. Outside-the-classroom activities may include providing sealants and fluoride treatments for children. “We do that by going right into the elementary schools.”

The students joined others from the Wisconsin Technical College System’s 16 colleges in Madison for a legislative day sponsored by the Wisconsin Association for Career and Technical Education. Students set up displays about their schools and programs in the Capitol Rotunda, while others personally visited legislators’ offices to lobby on technical education issues.

Johnson and Becker combined messages about their community outreach efforts with information on specific issues. Becker said they would like to see Wisconsin adopt a program Minnesota has pioneered in which a certified advanced dental hygiene practitioner could provide services without the direct supervision of a dentist.

“We’d like to see that so we can keep our jobs here,” said Becker.

“We’ve had some supporters, but with others it’s tough,” said Johnson. “The dentists are opposed to it.”

Dylan Warzynski of Almond and Josh Frederickson of Owen represented CVTC’s Agriscience Technician program in Madison, and specifically talked about the biodiesel program.

“We tell them what we do at CVTC to promote the growth of the agriculture industry and to promote the use of biodiesel fuels,” said Warzynski.

He added that they were prepared to speak in favor of renewal of a program that offered $1 in tax credits for every gallon of biodiesel fuel blended with regular diesel. That program was recently renewed, Warsynski said.

“We wanted to showcase programs that really showed what CVTC does,” said Alisa Hoepner Schley, student life specialist at CVTC, who helped select the programs for presentation. “Biodiesel is really cutting edge and we wanted to show what students are doing here at CVTC, making biodiesel fuel out of seeds in a mobile laboratory.”

Hoepner Schley said the Dental Hygienist program is a good example of CVTC’s partnerships in the community, with students working with local professional dentists and hygienists and spending time volunteering in the community.

“Our presentations were geared toward legislators. The goal of the program is to show what our students are doing in technical education,” said Hoepner Schley.

 

Blackhawk Technical College eyes new manufacturing training site

From madison.com: “On Campus: Blackhawk Technical College eyes new manufacturing training site” — Students hoping to learn advanced manufacturing could soon get another new facility in the region. Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville recently approved plans to open a 105,000-square-foot industrial facility in Milton by the fall semester in 2014.

It would piggyback on a new advanced manufacturing training center at Madison Area Technical College that was approved in a 2010 building referendum and is slated to open later this year.

Blackhawk’s District Board approved plans for the college to lease the facility and convert it into a training ground for five of the college’s programs initially with four more moving there in the future.

The initial wave of programs in the new facility include precision machining, industrial maintenance, electromechanical technology, welding and metal fabrication. The next wave would include computer systems technology, industrial engineering, mechanical design technology and HVAC.

“The face of manufacturing is changing radically, and the need for highly trained technicians has never been more acute,” said Tom Eckert, Blackhawk president, in a statement. The new training facility “will provide us some much-needed space and at the same time help address the workforce gap.”

The lease will cost $155,125 in the first year at $1.48 a square foot. In the second year the rate increases to $2.88 a square foot with annual increases limited to 2 percent after that, Eckert said.

The plan must still be approved by the state technical college system board.

 

NTC takes next step in connecting students with gold collar careers

From pricecountydaily.com: “NTC takes next step in connecting students with gold collar careers” — Advances in technology and an increasing demand for skilled workers have transformed the manufacturing world, leaving employees to trade in those trusty old blue collars for ones with a gilded sheen.

With the help of its partners in local industry and education, Northcentral Technical College (NTC) is taking the next step in giving students a chance to wear that gold collar, provided it is a good fit for them, said Bobbi Damrow, dean of NTC’s North Campus in Phillips.

Positions making up the shiny, new field of gold collar careers fall into a variety of trade areas, including welding, electromechanical work, fabrication and even to some extent, information technology, as Damrow explained.

Workers who enter jobs forming today’s manufacturing sector aren’t likely to find the shop conditions that awaited their grandparents; use of robotic equipment and other advanced technology are now all part of a day’s work, according to Damrow.

NTC is but one partner in a group of northwest Wisconsin educational institutes and businesses that have joined together in advancing the Gold Collar Careers initiative – a grassroots response to challenges regional manufacturers were facing in their efforts to secure workers equipped with the advanced skills needed to thrive in the industry.

“Manufacturing growth was being inhibited due to a shortage of these skilled workers,” according to the introduction page on the Gold Collar Careers initiative Web site.

Damrow said that NTC has been involved in the movement for probably over five years due to demographic trends showing where job openings would be as Price County’s workforce ages. “In Phillips, we have a manufacturing focus.”

That focus is evident on a much larger scale at the Wausau campus where “they’ve got a number of very high tech, complete programs for the gold collar career sector,” Damrow said.

NTC’s North Campus already offers Phillips and Chequamegon High School students an introduction to this in-demand career sector along with a shot at earning 12 transferable college credits in the same certificate area via its newly introduced Manufacturing Electronics Maintenance (MEM) Academy.

Now, the campus is poised to debut a symposium on that same class of high demand careers geared at students in grades 7-12. They’ll be holding the Gold Collar Careers Symposium at Phillips Middle School Thursday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m. in partnership with the Chequamegon School District, Phillips High School, Price County Economic Development Association and Northwest Wisconsin CEP (Concentrated Employment Program) Inc. Among other areas of work, CEP offers youth apprenticeship programming.

Students in all three Price County school districts – Chequamegon, Phillips and Prentice – are invited to take part in the event.

One simple goal stands as the driving force behind the symposium:

“…We want to give the students some orientation that we do have gold collar careers in Price County,” Damrow said.

The event is set to open with displays presented by Price County manufacturers and a spread of light snacks. Students, whether already taking transcripted courses with NTC or just starting to think about future career options, will get a chance to learn about local industries, the products they produce and employment needs foreseen in the future. The second part of the event, slated to run from 6:30-7:30 p.m., will feature a panel discussion with local gold collar employees, employers and Northwest Wisconsin CEP reps weighing in on industry topics. After that, viewing of tabletop displays and talks with local manufacturers should resume, according to Damrow.

Students are asked to come to the event accompanied by a parent or guardian.

“I think it’s important that everyone is on the same page for what types of jobs are in the area,” Damrow said.

Price County students who’d like to participate in the event are asked to return a registration slip to their high school offices by March 22.

While Damrow said that she realizes gold collar careers won’t be a good fit for everyone, she would like each student to get a chance to try the job field on for size in case it suits them well.

One other upcoming event aims at giving students an even earlier introduction to manufacturing careers. The program Get S.M.A.R.T. (Science and Math Activities Using Real-World Thinking) delivers “a day of hands-on fun and exploration” to area students in grades 5-12.

Get S.M.A.R.T. is scheduled to be held at the Manufacturing Lab of the NTC North Campus in Phillips Saturday, March 9 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Program participants will be divided into two separate sessions. They can expect to spend half of their day at NTC completing a welding project and the other half creating a mystery project using state-of-the-art technology. As in the symposium, students taking part in this program will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Seventeen of the available 24 spots had already filled up as of Monday, Feb. 25, so Damrow encouraged any students who might be interested in participating to act fast and register today. There is a $10 fee for the event to cover the cost of electronics kits used in program activities. The registration fee will secure students lunch, a T-shirt, their completed projects and door prizes.

Damrow said that she’s excited for the chance to be able to give younger students a taste of the type of work at the heart of gold collar careers.

“It’s going to be a fun day,” Damrow said, adding that Get S.M.A.R.T. events will be held at all three of the largest NTC campuses, including Antigo and Wausau in addition to Phillips. Each of the events are structured consistently so that students will find the same experience, both educational and enjoyable, no matter which site they head to for the event, according to Damrow.

NTC has gradually cast a wider net in terms of getting educational offerings in the area to complement the needs of businesses, as Damrow explained.

First, new welding and MEM training was introduced in response to feedback from members of local industry that they’d like to see programs at the Phillips campus oriented more toward the demands of the manufacturing field. The next step was bringing MEM programming to the county’s high schools via academy courses.

“Now, we’re actually bringing some of those very basic concepts down to the middle schools,” Damrow said.

She explained the benefit of introducing students to the career field at these younger grade levels, touching on the key role technology has come to take on in every area of life, not just manufacturing.

“They’re very tech savvy and with the gold collar careers kind of adding that very technical, automated element, I think that introducing it to them at such a young age should really instill in them some excitement about that type of career path,” Damrow said.

Anyone with questions about the Get S.M.A.R.T. program is asked to give Samantha Buchberger a call at (715) 803-1711 or send her an email at buchberger@ntc.edu.

Hortonville student gets head start on welding career

From wearegreenbay.com: “Hortonville student gets head start on welding career” — While most of his peers are still figuring out their lives –a local high school junior is working on a career. He’s taking advantage of a special program that helps him train to be a welder.

Welding anything together takes a lot of skill and know-how and for a 16-year-old high school junior to do it – it’s pretty impressive.  Bo Huss, “I took a class at Hortonville High School and it really interested me.”

Because of that, Huss got involved with the state’s Youth Options program through his school that pays for 18 credits of technical education. Those credits can be counted toward high school graduation and college credit for approved classes.

Huss is on the fast track to getting a degree in welding from Fox Valley Technical College.  Says Huss, “I  already have a job at Tom-Cin Metals, so I’m really waiting to turn 18 so that I can start welding.”

Tom-Cin Metals has hired five high school students over the last couple of years. There’s a large need for welders across the country. Welders make on average 17 dollars an hour.

 

Blackhawk programs moving to Milton site

From beloitdailynews.com: “Blackhawk programs moving to Milton site” — Eight advanced manufacturing programs at Blackhawk Technical College will move into a new building in Milton, Wis.

The BTC board unanimously approved leasing out a vacant building at 15 N. Plumb St. in Milton during its Thursday night meeting.

The lease would be for 10 years along with two five-year renewals for the 105,100-square-foot building, said BTC President Tom Eckert.

Before the lease can be signed the Wisconsin Technical College System Board has to approve of the project. Eckert said he believes that will happen in March or April.

If approved, the college would pay $155,125 in the first year of the lease, or about $1.47 per square foot. In the second year the rate increases to $2.88 per square foot and an annual cost of about $302,688. Further increases are limited to 2 percent per year.

Four of the eight programs including welding, industrial maintenance, electro-mechanical technology and precision machining will move into the building at the beginning of the 2014-15 school year.

The other four — heating, ventilation, air conditioning/refrigeration technician, mechanical design technology, industrial engineering technician and computer systems technology — will move the following year.

The building, while in “excellent condition” will still need about $10 million of renovations in order for it to be suitable for the classroom, Eckert said.

“That will be over a number of years,” he said. “We’ll be taking the inside and making it ready and bringing it to a quality level that reflects the college’s brand and what it wants to look like as educational facility.”

Primary funding for the renovations will be done through bonds.

Eckert said the classrooms would need to be built and the production areas will be renovated into training labs.

“We will make it clean and bright and make it reflect modern manufacturing with state-of-the are equipment,” he said.

BTC has been working with Madison-based Plunkett Raysich Architects on the design of the new facility.

Increased demand for manufacturing jobs caused the college too look for a building to house an advanced manufacturing training center. Plans were being talked about initially with the Iron Works complex in downtown Beloit as a potential site for the facility.

However, the costs of the renovations and annual lease were too high for the college to afford, Eckert said.

In December Eckert told the Daily News that the college was looking at property off of Madison Avenue in Milton. He confirmed Friday that this was the land the college was looking at.

Requests for proposals were sent out in the fall after the college decided not to locate the facility at the Iron Works building in Beloit.

Five proposals were sent in and three didn’t meet the minimum requirements the college was looking at.

“The Milton site came out on top as a site we felt met all of our needs,” Eckert said.

Demand for manufacturing jobs has increased significantly over the last few years. As the Baby Boom generation is retiring more jobs in welding and industrial engineers are needed in the workforce.

Gary Kohn, BTC marketing and communications manager, said the current programs are equipped to handle 170 students, but 299 qualified applications were received.

Once the programs are moved the space they occupied will be renovated to expand other programs including nursing, business classes and the college’s Information Technology department, Eckert said.

Annual event offers opportunity to explore careers, learn technology

From leadertelegram.com: “Annual event offers opportunity to explore careers, learn technology” — The Chippewa Valley Technical College annual Manufacturing Show lives up to its name.

The March 7 event features the latest and greatest when it comes to technology, from the application of micro technology in regional products to the use of sound to test welding quality to the formation of industry-education partnerships to prepare new workers.

More than 20 manufacturing companies will have displays about their role in their industries and in the Chippewa Valley economy and will use the opportunity to recruit new workers as well.

The public will be able to learn about the careers available in manufacturing at the event.

Joining those companies will be representatives of CVTC’s manufacturing programs: electromechanical technology, industrial mechanic, machine tooling technics, and welding/welding fabrication, as well as Manufacturing, nanotechnology and industrial engineering programs.

Together CVTC and its private-sector partners will present the modern face of manufacturing, with its increasing use of the latest technology.

“This year’s show will have a strong focus on the skills gap – the fact that there are a lot of manufacturing jobs but a shortage of people with the skills to fill them,” said Mark Hendrickson, special projects coordinator in the manufacturing area for CVTC. “We’re inviting employers in so they can tell about what they need in modern manufacturing employees.”

The event also will emphasize technologies involved in manufacturing today.

“People don’t realize how much of modern manufacturing technology is being applied locally,” Hendrickson said.

To demonstrate, presentations will be held during the event, from 3 to 8 p.m. at CVTC’s Manufacturing Education Center, 2320 Alpine Road, Eau Claire. Presentations will cover such subjects as the latest in metal-cutting technologies, the use of nano and micro technology to change properties of organic matter, and developments in types of metal surfaces.

R-Con, a Menomonie company, will demonstrate ultrasonic analysis of welds, using sound waves to look into the body of a metal weld. Realityworks, an Eau Claire company with a national reputation as a pioneer in simulation technology, will have a presentation on partnerships between industry and education. Participants will also be able to try their hand at welding on a simulator.

“The entire show will present a good overview of manufacturing careers in western Wisconsin,” said CVTC Dean of Industry, Agriculture and Energy Aliesha Crowe. “We have a great diversity of manufacturing companies in this area, many of them producing products that are getting attention worldwide. Attendees can learn more about these companies at the Manufacturing Show and how CVTC prepares workers for lucrative careers in manufacturing.”

Another event highlight will be the debut of an excerpt from the next Edge Factor video. The Edge Factor Show features action-packed episodes that unlock the exciting world of manufacturing, inspiring a new generation to explore careers in the field.

“We will preview the introduction to the latest video,” said Hendrickson.

Back from last year’s manufacturing show will be competitions involving area high school teams. For the Junkyard Battle welding competition, teams will create welded sculptures of their school mascots. A school logo design competition will demonstrate school teams’ machine tool skills.

In addition, two poster contests will focus on engineering technology, particularly micro and nano technology.

This summer’s NASCAR-themed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) camp will be previewed at the manufacturing show, with a demonstration of the model cars camp participants will be working on during the June 17-21 event.

Grant funds available for worker training

From chippewa.com: “Grant funds available for worker training” — Area businesses have the opportunity to upgrade the skills and productivity of their employees through training programs funded in part by the State of Wisconsin Workforce Advancement Training grants.

Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) is accepting requests through April 5 for consideration for such training programs, for training sessions to be held between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

The training, available to for-profit businesses operating in Wisconsin, can include any combination of academic, occupational and employability topics or courses.

Grants anticipated to be available through this program are awarded to promote increased investment in the development of incumbent workers, improve Wisconsin business productivity and competitiveness, and augment the state’s economic base by expanding technical college training services to business and industry. The program also has the broader objective of supporting regional workforce and economic development efforts.

Since 2008, CVTC has been awarded over $2 million in Workforce Advancement Training grants to provide training for over 6,400 workers in over 50 different companies around west central Wisconsin.

The Workforce Advancement Training Grant Request for Consideration form may be found online at www.cvtc.edu/traininggrants. For more information, call 1-800-547-CVTC (2882), ext. 4676.

Financial aid event helps families plan for college

From waow.com: “Financial aid event helps families plan for college” — WAUSAU – Applying for financial aid can be a challenging task. That’s why organizers hold the “College Goal Wisconsin” event across the state to help people navigate online forms.

One of the free sessions was held at North Central Technical College Saturday.

Tom and Tammy Kirsch of Edgar are sending their first child, Tyler, to college in the fall.

“He’s a good student, gets good grades,” said Tom Kirsch.

They’re hoping to get some financial aid to help pay for his education.

“We have been planning since they were quite small but unfortunately, the pot has not grown as much as we would have liked it to grow,” Kirsch said.

At NTC, volunteers helped people learn more about the Free Application for Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA and complete the online form.

“Financial aid includes the low interest rate student loans, grants, college work study and then scholarships based on financial need,” said “College Goal Wisconsin” chair Sharon Hunter.

She added that filling out the online form correctly is crucial.

“So they can find out what their expected contribution is toward college so they can find out if college is really affordable or not,” she said.

Although the form has gotten easier to navigate in recent years, organizers said many people who are filling it out for the first time have questions.

Hunter said the process requires, “very basic information about the student and parent and then income information which comes right off your tax return.”

The Kirsch’s told Newsline 9 the free event helped them feel more confident about the process.

“Any financial aid, scholarship money will help tremendously,” said Tom Kirsch.

The U.S. Department of Education provides more than $150 billion dollars each year to help students pay for higher education.

WCTC 3D modeling instructor featured

From bizjournals.com: “PDC’s Sisson has designs on improvement: CRE Guide – People in the News” — James Sisson joined PDC Midwest Inc. as a project architect bringing more than 16 years of experience in residential, institutional and commercial building projects in addition to specific expertise in information technology. He has taught courses in 3D modeling and is currently a part-time instructor at Waukesha County Technical College.

NEW POSITION: Project architect/CAD manager, PCD Midwest Inc., Hartland

HOMETOWN: Waukesha

EDUCATION: Architectural drafting and construction, Waukesha County Technical College, 1993

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO YOUR NEW OPPORTUNITY: “I’m excited about the growth at PDC Midwest. We have a very specific niche in our industry as an architect-led design/build firm. Clients are very loyal to the efficiencies of our delivery process and the high quality of our work. I’m thrilled to be part of a forward thinking firm.”

THOUGHTS ON YOUR POSITION: “I am looking forward to the opportunity to positively impact the firm through my architectural project involvement and by streamlining CAD processes. As CAD manager, I’ll be leading the charge for constant improvement.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Take every opportunity you can to try new things. Do what you can to become invaluable.”

FIRST JOB: Dishwasher at Country Inn hotel

PERSONAL HERO: Neil Armstrong

LAST BOOK READ: “The Hunger Games” trilogy

PERSON YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO MEET: Albert Einstein

FAMILY: “I’ve been married since 1995 and I have two sons and one daughter, ages 13, 10 and 6.”

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: “Walt Disney World with the kids”

MOST MEANINGFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT: “Passing all nine (Architectural Registration) exams the first time”

FAVORITE FILM: “The Fugitive” (1993)

FAVORITE MILWAUKEE RESTAURANT: “Saz’s. There’s nothing like having a beer and eating mozzarella marinara down at Summerfest.”

LIKES ABOUT MILWAUKEE: “The Milwaukee Admirals, Summerfest and the fireworks at the lakefront”

WHAT YOU MOST LIKE DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME: “Spending time with family and friends, golfing, attending car shows and watching hockey”

NWTC counselor gives advice for parents of “boomerang kids”

From greenbaypressgazette.com: “The challenges of a child moving home” — Adulthood is an exciting time, but it can also come with challenges. If you have sent your children off to college or if a life situation squelched the plan of independence for your adult children, there is a chance they may return home for support during that time. Setting expectations and helping them gain financial support for independence can go miles for these so-called “boomerang kids.”

Priority number one is discussing household expectations and an idea of what the final outcome will look like.

“Always talk about future plans and bring it up early enough to plan accordingly,” says Dr. John Teske, a lead counselor clinician at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College with a doctorate in clinical psychology.

If your child is going to be graduating from college, determine if they plan to stay in that city or if they plan to move home. “If they are staying in their college town, make sure they think about what they are going to do for a job, how they will pay the bills, and if a roommate moves out how their housing will be maintained,” says Teske. As a parent, you can help your child stay independent by offering them any unneeded furnishings, helping introduce them how much it will cost to live and work out health care benefits through your own employment.

If your adult child will be moving back home, lay out the ground rules. Teske says topics such as what time you will be coming home if you head out for the day or night, who is allowed to come to the house to visit, what time other members of the household go to bed and how to respect that time, and in what ways financially they can contribute to the household operations.

“If your child is at home and not responsible for cleaning up, what will they do to make their contribution?” asks Teske. A good option might be to have the adult child shop for and prepare one meal a week for the family.

In addition to the food expenses, consider having your child contribute to a portion of the monthly bills. If they are working, whether full or part-time, determine a reasonable amount they could pay for rent. “Going over expenses is a teachable moment. Discuss the normal cost for a heating bill, water bill and cable bill,” says Teske.

MPTC students join Capitol event

From wiscnews.com: “MPTC students join Capital event” — Legislators and other guests were invited to attend a showcase of service learning and entrepreneurship projects involving more than 100 Wisconsin Technical College students, including students from Moraine Park Technical College, on Feb. 19 in the State Capitol Rotunda.

The Celebration of Student Engagement included project displays from Wisconsin’s 16 technical colleges. Moraine Park’s display featured the college’s interactive media design program and information on building relationships within communities through student involvement.

Moraine Park interactive media design students Amanda Finstad of Waupun, Bonnie Weiss of Kewaskum and Resa Wronski of Campbellsport joined  leadership development student William Milbrot of Mayville to represent Moraine Park at the event.

Finstad, who attended the event last year, was honored to attend the showcase again this year.

“I enjoy sharing my experiences at Moraine Park. Participating in the showcase is a great opportunity to show what I have learned and how I will apply that knowledge to my future career,” said Finstad. “The showcase also allowed me to meet other people and learn about what other technical colleges are doing throughout the state.”

CVTC helps local employers train workers

From wqow.com: “Upgrading employee education” — Eau Claire  – An area technical college is teaming up with private companies looking to make the most out of their employees.

The skills upgrade is paid for through state grants and these taxpayer dollars are pumping up productivity.

“It allows employers to partner with their local technical college to train their current workforce,” says Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Roxann Vanderwyst.

This partnership has the goal of transforming tax funded grants into more skilled and productive workers.

“Everything we do with our business and industry training is really geared and customized to what the needs are for these employers,” says Vanderwyst.

“Our company signed us up just to send out a better employee to the customers,” says student and electrician Bill Lansin.

Employers can request specific classes from the college, like this electromechanical training program.

“So there is a lot of different areas that they are trying to hit so it’s not just one thing,” says Lansin.

“The focus again is to really upgrade the skill level of employees and overall provide productivity for companies,” says Vanderwyst.

Because increased productivity can save money for more than the employer.

“It’s saving everybody money because you’re sending out a better qualified person.  So the people that are paying the taxes or whatever for the program are getting a better person to come out and fix their equipment later too,” says Lansin.

Investing in Wisconsin, one employee at a time.

Chippewa Valley Technical College is currently seeking businesses who want to develop their employee’s skills in the 2013 to 2014 sessions.

The workforce advancement training grants are specific to certain skills sets, so the college does need to hear businesses needs to decide which classes to provide in the Chippewa Valley.

BTC board approves training facility in Milton

From gazettextra.com: “BTC board approves training facility in Milton” — TOWN OF ROCK–More students will acquire skills to fill an expanding manufacturing workforce in southern Wisconsin if Blackhawk Technical College’s new venture succeeds as officials hope.

The college’s district board voted unanimously Thursday to lease a vacant manufacturing building in Milton and convert it into an “advanced manufacturing training center.”

The college will move its manufacturing programs to the new center, which is scheduled to open for the fall semester in 2014.

The lease will cost $155,125 per year for 10 years, with options for two five-year extensions and the option to buy at any time, said college President Tom Eckert.

The district plans to borrow $4.21 million to renovate and furnish the 105,100-square-foot building at 15 N. Plumb St. in Milton.

The Janesville Transit System bus that already stops in Milton will include a stop at the center, said Renea Ranguette, vice president for finance and operations.

With staff, utilities, maintenance and associated costs, the center would cost an estimated $528,725 a year to operate, according to a memo prepared for the board. Tuition and fees would cover $370,350 of that cost, for a net increase of $158,375 to the college’s operating costs.

The Wisconsin Technical College System Board still needs to approve the lease for the project to go forward.

Busting manufacturing myths

From superiortelegram.com: “Busting manufacturing myths” — From robots to equations, high school students stepped behind the scenes to view manufacturing in Superior last week. “Mythbusting Manufacturing” sent 35 students on a fact-gathering expedition. They toured four Superior businesses — Genesis, Field Logic, Charter Films and Superior Lidgerwod-Mundy — and looked in on manufacturing-related classes at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Superior.

“The tour’s goal is to help break myths about manufacturing and expose youth to manufacturing career opportunities in the region,” said Suzannah Crandall, youth services specialist with Northwest CEP. “What better way to interest youth in future career opportunities than to get them a first-hand look at the options that exist?”

The Genesis tour group got to see two robotic welders on the job, creating pieces to be assembled into massive shears, pulverizers and grapples for heavy machinery. Northwestern High School junior Jeff Priem said they were the coolest things he saw at Genesis. The controls for the high-tech machines were built around the gamers of today, according to Tom Cavallin, operations manager at the Genesis plant on Connors Point.

“It turns out video games might help them out,” Crandall said. She was quick to ask Cavallin to repeat himself when he mentioned that Genesis has a hard time finding skilled workers. Three years ago, he told the students, the company interviewed 120 people for jobs. Only 15 passed the welding test and were hired. He outlined the different positions at the business as well as pay scales.

“I didn’t know they had that many jobs open,” Priem said.

Another set of students toured Field Logic, which specializes in archery targets.

“Field Logic was, it was different from what I thought it was going to be,” said Nate Van Ert, a junior from Superior High School. “Because there are way more departments and categories instead of just making targets.”

As they toured the machine tool, industrial maintenance, welding and Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) classes, high school students solved an equation for electrical resistance and met students who were passionate about their career paths.

“I absolutely love welding,” said Ashley McDonald, a 2012 graduate of the welding program. “I was hooked the first time I struck an arc.”

She’s part of a local union and said the field is ripe with job opportunities.

“If you want work, overnight you have it,” McDonald said, so long as you’re serious about it and not afraid to work hard. The program has had a 100 percent placement rate for the past five years, according to welding instructor John Palmer.

WITC will be launching a second session of welding classes this fall, funded through a federal Trades Adjustment Act grant. The program will include career pathways to get students working sooner, according to Diane Vertin, campus administrator. This new evening session of welding classes is aimed at retraining displaced workers for high-demand, high-wage jobs. Another part of the funding will be used to expand, bringing WITC’s mechanical design technology program to the Superior campus.

Along with Superior and Maple, students from Solon Springs and Hayward high schools also participated. Dale Van Ert, curriculum pathways coordinator for the Superior School District, said more such events are needed.

“Manufacturing jobs are in our community and there are going to be many more,” he said. The key is to provide local people to fill them.

“Jobs in manufacturing range from basic line-workers to advanced positions as CNC machinists and mechanical engineers,” Crandall said. “It’s an industry where everyone is a fit.”

Fighting Internet crime at Fox Valley Technical College

From fox11online.com: “Fighting Internet crime at Fox Valley Technical College” — GRAND CHUTE – The fight against Internet crimes involving children is getting a renewed boost from the federal government.

It keeps up to $25 million over four years flowing into a program at Fox Valley Technical College.

Each dot on this map represents someone logged on to a child pornography site. Brad Russ says there are hundreds nationwide and beyond.

“You can see the magnitude of the problem,” said Brad Russ, director of the Criminal Justice Training Center at FVTC.

The program is called “Round-up.” It’s part of the ongoing effort to stay ahead of would-be offenders.

“Now, they can access material anywhere in the world very rapidly. Everybody’s got web cams now. It’s a lot more prevalent problem I think than it ever used to be,” said Russ.

Russ runs the National Criminal Justice Training Center at Fox Valley Technical College in Grand Chute. A federal grant from the Child Protection Act of 2012 pays for the program, and training for officers.

During a recent training session, Appleton Police Department Sergeant Polly Olson went undercover, posing as a mother of two young girls.

Olson said it didn’t take long to get a response.

“He was approaching me. He wanted to travel, to meet my kids in exchange for some sex with my kids,” said Sgt. Olson.

Olson tracked the number to a sex offender in Wyoming.

“They were able to pick him up, and are actually prosecuting him for that offense,” said Olson.

In the last two years, the Internet Task Force has made 4,000 arrests, executed more than 6,000 search warrants, and saved 84 children from abusive situations.

Congressmen Reid Ribble voted for the initiative.

“As a parent, and grand parent, protecting children matters to every single family,” said Rep. Reid Ribble, R-8th District.

“That’s the thing that we’re all working towards, is how to interdict these crimes before they happen, or help children who have been victimized.”

In the task force’s 15 years, it has assisted in 33,000 arrests for suspected computer crimes against children.

That’s on average half a dozen a day.

MSTC considers adding barber program

From wisconsinrapidstribune.com: “MSTC considers adding barber program” — The Mid-State Technical College District Board was scheduled to meet Monday to discuss creating a diploma program for prospective barbers.

Daily Tribune Media recently talked with Janet Newman, dean of the college’s Service and Health Division, about the proposal and what it would mean for MSTC students.

Here are her responses, which have been slightly edited for clarity and length.

Question: How did the concept for a barbering program come about?

Answer: Wisconsin state law changed as of July 1, 2012. Prior to that, individuals in the state of Wisconsin were licensed as barber/cosmetology; it was a combined license, and the training requirements were identical. All training programs were 1,800 hours, and they were training people to be barbers and cosmetologists. … On July 1, the law changed, so there are two separate licenses. The training requirements for barber licenses were reduced to 1,000 hours.

Q: What’s the difference between a barber and a cosmetologist?

A: The barbers will be able to do everything cosmetologists can do except manicures and some skin care techniques. There is more emphasis in the barber program on men’s haircuts, shaving and those kinds of skills, but our cosmetologists learn how to do that, too.

Q: What would the new program involve?

A: That’s one of those things that has a direct impact on programming because as state law changes, so does our programming needs. … The way that our cosmetology program is structured, it requires people to be in the classroom on campus 35 hours a week … and a lot of people can’t work that into their lives. The barber program would offer us the ability to offer (classes) on a part-time basis. The format would be two nights a week and every other weekend. It would serve those individuals who work during the day.

Q: How did the proposal get to this point?

A: We have a local program advisory committee, so first of all we discussed it at that level back in October. That advisory committee went on record saying they were in support of us starting this program. The statewide curriculum for barbering was approved in December.

Q: What process does the proposal still have to go through until it gains final approval?

A: If our board approves it (Monday), then … just because of the time of the state board meetings, we can’t get onto their next agenda until May, and then at that point, they approve what’s called the concept. … What is the employment demand in the district that is requesting approval for this program?

Then, the last step would be the state board approving it in July. That step looks at the reasonableness of the costs. In our case, the costs are really going to be, I would say minimal, because, No. 1 it’s a way to maximize our utilization of our existing classroom and salon and second, we should not be hiring a permanent staff member. We would hire an adjunct faculty member.

Q: If it gains final approval, when would the degree program start?

A: We would begin offering the program the week of Sept. 9, so if somebody started then … when they get to summer of 2014, they would need to be on campus in our salon four days a week. The total number of weeks would be 44 weeks.

MATC receives accreditations from the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation

From acfchefs.org: “Milwaukee Area Technical College receives programmatic accreditations from the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation” —  Two culinary programs at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee, received programmatic accreditation by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) Accrediting Commission in July.

ACFEF programmatic accreditation was granted to Milwaukee Area Technical College for its AAS degree in baking and pastry, and its AAS degree in culinary arts, initially accredited in 1987, was renewed. The accreditations will expire June 30, 2014, and June 30, 2016, respectively.

“The Accrediting Commission evaluates faculty, curriculum, facilities, student services and administrative capability to ensure that the programs promote successful student outcomes,” said Rob Hudson, CEC, CCE, AAC, ACFEF Accrediting Commission chair. “We are proud to recognize Milwaukee Area Technical College’s programs as ACFEF accredited.”

ACFEF programmatic accreditation assures that a program is meeting at least a minimum amount of standards and competencies set for faculty, curriculum and student services. Accreditation ensures that the program follows established standards, has accountability and credibility standards, and maintains a high level of professionalism and up-to-date practices.

Accreditation by the ACFEF Accrediting Commission of a program at an institution is voluntary. To receive accreditation, a program must first submit a self-study. Then, a three-member team performs an on-site evaluation to validate the information submitted in the self-study, which is compiled into a team report. Next, the Accrediting Commission reviews the report, along with the institution’s self-study, and decides if accreditation will be granted and for how long. An initial grant is for three or five years, while a renewal grant is for three, five or seven years. There are currently 392 postsecondary accredited programs and 144 secondary certified programs in 351 institutions accredited by the ACFEF Accrediting Commission worldwide. The ACFEF Accrediting Commission, recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation since 1998, will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2012.

Madison College expert discusses cyber security after city was hacked

From channel3000.com: “City takes website down to evade hackers” — Hackers got into the city’s website Thursday. The city said it had no choice but to take the site offline completely for a software upgrade.

 Video from channel3000.com

Gateway Tech supports plan to tie funding to jobs

From journaltimes.com: “Pay for placement — Gateway supports plan to tie technical college funding to jobs” — RACINE — Currently, the majority of technical colleges’ state funding is based on three things: enrollment, operational costs and property values. Actual job placement and demand don’t play a role in that funding.

That is about to change.

As part of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget to be presented Wednesday, he has announced plans to tie funding for technical colleges, such as Gateway Technical College, to those colleges’ performance. With Gateway’s current high job placement rate, President Bryan Albrecht is in support of it.

“Accountability has always been a critical factor in education,” Albrecht said. Also, he said, it provides an incentive for colleges to improve performance to increase funding.

The state provides $83.5 million annually to technical colleges in general state aid, said Conor Smyth, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Technical College System.

The governor has proposed increasing that amount to $88.5 million for the 2013-14 academic year. Starting in 2014-15, Walker wants to have 10 percent of that $88.5 million tied to performance standards and, eventually, 100 percent of it tied to performance by 2020.

The specifics and funding formula, however, still need to be developed by the WTCS and the state Department of Administration.

Already, Gateway and other technical colleges have a system in place to track job placement, Albrecht said. For instance, 85 percent of students who graduated from Gateway in May 2011 had jobs six months after graduation.

In order to ensure that the college is meeting community needs, degree committees — made up of area employees and employers — meet at least twice a year to discuss programs, said John Thibodeau, Gateway’s assistant provost.

During those meetings, they sometimes realize that there is no longer demand for certain degrees, Thibodeau said. For example, he said that in the past few years the college eliminated its medical transcriptionist program and radio broadcasting program. Doctors used to record notes on a audio recorder for later transcription, but that has become less common, Thibodeau said. Advancements in computer technology have reduced the need for radio broadcasters, Thibodeau said. It’s much easier to put a playlist together, Thibodeau said.

The college also dropped its sign language interpreter program, he said. There is still demand for that occupation, he said, but employers now want to hire people with degrees higher than associate degrees. They saw that their graduates weren’t getting jobs, and decided to change, Thibodeau said.

Gateway also works to meet community needs by developing new programs, Albrect said, Last week Gateway unveiled a $3.5 million addition to the newly renamed SC Johnson iMET Center in Sturtevant.

It includes labs that small- and medium-size companies which lack research and development facilities may use to design or redesign products.

With Gateway’s current systems in place, Albrecht said, “I’m confident Gateway will be able to meet (performance) expectations.”

GATEWAY AT A GLANCE

Based on survey results from May 2011 Gateway Technical College graduates:

— 85 percent have jobs within six months of graduation.

— 55 percent are employed in their field of training.

— The average full-time wage is $16.84 per hour.

To see a breakdown by degree, go to: www.gtc.edu and click on “Graduate Follow-Up Study” on the right of the page. The 2011 Graduate Follow-Up survey was mailed to 2,308 associate degree and technical diploma graduates. A total of 1,808 graduates responded to the survey for a response rate of 78 percent. To achieve that rate, multiple surveys are sent to all students and calls are also made.

Displaced Pactiv workers launch new healthcare careers

From chippewa.com: “Displaced Pactiv workers launch new healthcare careers” — Barbara Kouba-Prewitt worked at the Pactiv plant in Chippewa Falls for more than 31 years; her friend Faye Wolf worked there over 20 year. Their lives were shattered in January when the plant closed, and they’ve still got a ways to go before piecing things back together.

But both Chippewa Falls women will soon be enrolling in a Certified Nursing Assistant class at Chippewa Valley Technical College as their next steps in new, but divergent, careers in healthcare.

After a lot of recent anguish, they see some hope on the horizon.

“Now at least I know there’s something I can do,” said Wolf.

The two women joined dozens of displaced workers in CVTC’s 11-county district to be introduced to new careers through the Healthcare Academy, part of the Bridges2Healthcare program that prepares displaced workers for specific jobs in the field. A group of 16 participants in the Healthcare Academy graduated Thursday in a ceremony at Wissota Health in Chippewa Falls. Seven of those graduates were former Pactiv workers.

“My last year at Pactiv I was a CI leader — a supervisory position,” said Kouba-Prewitt, reflecting on the layoff. “It was very difficult. Both my husband and I worked there.“

The glimmer of hope came from visits from representatives of the Department of Workforce Development.

“They came to our plant just about every week,” Kouba-Prewitt said.

Workforce Resource’s job is to transition unemployed people into long-term employment opportunities. That made the organization the perfect partner for CVTC in the Bridges2Healthcare program.

Bridges2Healthcare is the result of a federal grant made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the so-called stimulus bill of 2010. The bill made money available for retraining displaced workers for the jobs available in their areas.

CVTC was one of a group of eight technical and community colleges in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa to receive a grant to transition workers to healthcare jobs, according to CVTC Career Pathways Coordinator Brenda Scheurer.

“A lot of people were losing their jobs in manufacturing at the time,” said Scheurer. “We found a lot of the skills they had could be applicable to the healthcare industry.“

In Bridges2Healthcare, educational institutions partner with local agencies that work with displaced workers. In the Chippewa Valley, that’s Workforce Resource Inc.

“We were contacted by CVTC to put on the Healthcare Academy and to recruit people for the Bridges2Healthcare program,” said Sue Lane of Workforce Resource.

Workforce Resource screens prospects for their interest and aptitude for healthcare careers. Those selected enter the Healthcare Academy, a two-week session in which they explore the different aspects and opportunities available in the field.

“We go over medical terminology, regulations, safety, communication and time management,” Lane said. “They also become First Aid certified and do a lot of tours of local health care facilities.“

Through the process, the participants find areas of healthcare that interest them and are then channeled into further training programs, like Bridges2Healthcare’s Medical Office Receptionist or Geriatric Nursing Assistant, taught by CVTC instructors. Some enter regular CVTC programs like Nursing or Dental Hygienist.

“It’s remarkable,” said Kouba-Prewitt. “I became more interested in healthcare through the program. I’ve seen things that I didn’t even realize were part of healthcare.“

Wolf left factory work with a shoulder injury, and she was in need of a career change.

“I can’t do factory work anymore. I have to find something my shoulder can handle,” she said.

Wolf found what she was looking for in the Pharmacy Technician program at CVTC.

“I didn’t even know (the job) existed,” Wolf said. She thought all the people behind the counter at the pharmacy had impressive advanced degrees that were out of her reach. The Healthcare Academy taught her differently, and the rest of the Bridges2Healthcare program will help her transition into the career.

Kouba-Prewitt is headed for the Bridges2Healthcare Medical Office Receptionist program, but she also plans to take some accounting at CVTC, “so I can do the billing.“

Not all of the Healthcare Academy participants were laid-off workers. Nicole Barreiro of Chippewa Falls left a job in a field she just felt wasn’t right for her.

“I never worked in the healthcare field, but I felt I needed a fresh start,” she said. “Healthcare is very popular. There’s a lot of demand for workers. I like working with people. I love having that communication and interaction.“

Her explorations led her to CVTC’s Renal Dialysis Technician program.

Other Healthcare Academy sessions have been held in Eau Claire and River Falls since last fall, with more scheduled for later this year.

WCTC doubles welding lab space to address worker shortage

From bizjournals.com/milwaukee: “WCTC doubles welding lab space to address worker shortage” — Waukesha County Technical College recently completed an expansion of its Pewaukee welding lab that doubled the square footage and training capacity, the college said Friday.

The expansion also allows for heavy plate welding training, which will begin this summer.

“This expansion was necessary because we did not have the ability to do heavy plate welding in our current lab and there has been a considerable demand for welders from employers in our area,” said Mike Shiels, dean of WCTC’s School of Applied Technologies, in a prepared statement. “We needed to expand capacity to graduate more students from our welding programs and deliver more short-term training programs.”

The project in the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Center began in October 2012 and was completed in late January. The expansion doubled lab space from about 5,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet and added 19 new welding stations, upping the lab’s total to 44.

Shiels said the expansion improves the logistics of safely moving heavy plate material around the lab and improves material handling and processing for welding training. A jib crane will also be installed this summer.

“This expansion allows us to bring people off the waiting list and double the number of students we train every year to help meet the current demand for employees in the welding field,” Shiels said.

WCTC’s welding programs now have 200 students enrolled.

The lab expansion is an important step that will help feed the worker pipeline at Joy Global Inc. and other area manufacturers, said Dave Biddle, manager of technical services at the Milwaukee-based manufacturer of surface and underground mining equipment.

“The shortage of skilled workers is a real issue that many companies are struggling with,” Biddle said in a phone interview. “Between supporting our own internal needs as well as other local companies that we work with, (the WCTC expansion) is very important.”

Joy Global has an internal advanced welder training program that prepares workers for the company’s specific needs. About 20 percent of its 52 program graduates took welding classes at WCTC, said Bryan Hackbarth, Joy Global manager of weld engineering.

Hackbarth, who sits on an advisory board at WCTC, believes the area is making progress in addressing the skilled labor shortage.

He said local employers had a say in the curriculum for WCTC’s welding program.

“WCTC was very open and responsive to those requests,” Hackbarth said. “They took it upon themselves to be proactive and develop a heavy plate welding training program to meet the needs (of local employers).”