MATC adds food manufacturing, food science programs

From fabmilwaukee.com: “MATC adds food science and manufacturing programs” — Milwaukee Area Technical College will introduce 12 new associate degree and technical diploma programs in 2013-2014 to address growing demand in a number of industries.

The new programs in the School of Business are eBusiness fundamentals technical diploma, financial services technical diploma, food manufacturing and processing technical diploma and food science technology associate degree.

In the School of Health Sciences there is a new health information technician associate degree.

The School of Media and Creative Arts has a new audio production associate degree, creative advertising strategist associate degree, eProduction associate degree, mobile application developer technical diploma, and a mobile designer associate degree.

In the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences there is a new early childhood education technical diploma.

“The new programs exemplify MATC’s response to the needs of area businesses,” said MATC president Michael Burke, in a press release. “Students will have an opportunity to prepare for careers in some of the fastest-growing industries.”

MATC adds associate degree and technical diploma programs

From bizjournals.com: “MATC adds associate degree and technical diploma programs” — Milwaukee Area Technical College will introduce 12 new associate degree and technical diploma programs in 2013-2014 to address growing demand in a number of industries.

The new programs in the School of Business are eBusiness fundamentals technical diploma, financial services technical diploma, food manufacturing and processing technical diploma and food science technology associate degree.

In the School of Health Sciences there is a new health information technician associate degree. The School of Media and Creative Arts has a new audio production associate degree, creative advertising strategist associate degree, eProduction associate degree, mobile application developer technical diploma, and a mobile designer associate degree. In the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences there is a new early childhood education technical diploma.

“The new programs exemplify MATC’s response to the needs of area businesses,” said MATC president Michael Burke, in a press release. “Students will have an opportunity to prepare for careers in some of the fastest-growing industries.”

 

Displaced workers find new food manufacturing careers

From wausaudailyherald.com: “MSTC food manufacturing science certificate program opens opportunities for displaced workers” — After more than 30 years in the retail industry, Tom Halseth lost his job as manager of the Stevens Point J.C. Penney when the store closed in May 2010.

The 60-year-old Plover resident, faced with the prospect of starting a new career, soon enrolled in Mid-State Technical College’s food manufacturing science certificate program and now is working as a quality assurance technician at Mariani Packing Co. in Wisconsin Rapids.

“After losing my job, I was willing to do almost anything,” Halseth said.

Halseth was one of the first 18 people to complete the food manufacturing science certificate program last year at Mid-State Technical College as part of south Wood County’s Workforce Central initiative, which helps local dislocated workers gain the skills employers need by creating specialized training courses.

The 23-week, 20-credit program provides participants with 472 hours of instruction in three areas — computer skills, Manufacturing Skill Standards Certification and food science — through a curriculum a group of local businesses helped create to suit their need for skilled workers, said Jennifer Riggenbach, who coordinates the Workforce Central initiative through the Wisconsin Rapids-based Incourage Community Foundation.

Credits students earned in the program also could count toward a laboratory science technician degree.

“It was scary at first because I hadn’t been in school for so long,” Halseth said. “It was very encouraging and made us feel good about what we were doing. … We knew that there were businesses and people in the community helping us out, too.”

For food manufacturers, such as Mariani Packing Co., the certification program means less of a need for on-the-job training, said Jeff Pozorski, human resources manager for the Wisconsin Rapids cranberry processor, which has hired half a dozen people who earned the certificate.

“The biggest thing is they’ve been able to come in and hit the ground running,” Pozorski said. “It eliminates some of the learning curve.”

For Halseth, the certificate allowed him to return to the career path he originally chose.

“I was going to go into food science to begin with,” said Halseth, who previously earned a degree in microbiology but upon graduation from college was convinced by his part-time employer to stay in the retail industry.

“It was fun to see how things changed in 30 years,” he said.