Wednesday, December 23, 2015

PTCC’s Business Technology program supports today’s office professional


Administrative assistants, office managers and support staff, receptionists and clerks are all positions that continue to have a bright outlook, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. While the need for business professionals has remained steady, the skills employers seek change as quickly as the technology. In order to meet the needs of regional and state businesses, Pine Technical & Community College introduces its new Business Technology (BTEC) certificate and associate of applied science degree, starting spring semester.

 “Business professionals need to have a variety of experience and skills in order to support an office, especially in small organizations that require staff to wear a lot of hats,” said Gavin House, BTEC instructor. “Today’s office professional also needs to be familiar with marketing, accounting software, desktop publishing and management principles, as well as the fundamental communication and organization skills. Our new program covers all of these topics, along with an internship or capstone to give the graduate some real-world experience. ”

 First-year courses emphasize the basic knowledge and skills necessary to prepare students for entry-level office positions. Second-year offerings include advanced courses in business and technology as well as an internship and/or capstone course to prepare students for higher levels of employment. 

 PTCC’s BTEC program provides opportunities to become proficient in computer, business, and communication skills used by administrative and technology support positions in a wide variety of business office and customer service settings.

Coursework covers the fundamentals of business culture, written business communication, business presentations, computer fundamentals, use of current software applications and interpersonal and team development skills.

 To learn more about the program, please go to http://pine.edu/programs/business/business-technology/ or call 320.629.5100.

Friday, December 18, 2015

PTCC students complete program’s first mold and plastic articles



The goal of technical colleges is to provide their students with the hands-on, practical skills they will need to be successful in their careers. At Pine Technical & Community College, students are also bridging the gap between programs to create collaborative projects that prepare them for the job ahead – and blazing some trails as well.
 
 
Recently, PTCC Advanced Manufacturing student Mitchell Frommader has completed the first mold manufactured at the college.  He designed the part, programmed the CNC machine(s) to machine and engrave the mold. He also machined the mold base to accept the new mold along with the ejector retainer plate and ejector pins in the plastic molding machine.
 
 
After the mold was complete, it was ready for PTCC Plastic Technology students to put the piece to use.  Plastic Technology student Paul Linnerooth set up and cycled the molding machine for the first articles. He optimized the all parameters including pressures, speeds, shot size and cycle time. 




Mitch Frommader made mold in advanced manufacturing
Student Shawn Raykowski then set up the mold in the 110 ton Toshiba and programmed the robot and optimized the cycle for this press. Both molding machines are all electric servo-driven state of the art machines that were part of the Advanced Manufacturing Education Alliance (AME) to help the college focus on the high demand for skilled people in advanced manufacturing.
 
Paul Linnerooth set up and processed 1st articles
Shawn Raykowski set up and processed with the robot
“This was truly a student-led project from start to finish,” said Plastic Technology instructor Bryan Schaupp. “With the mold modifications that Mitch has made, it will be easy and inexpensive for students and anyone who has idea for smaller plastic parts to have cheap alternative to develop their project.” Size of the inserts are approximately .5 x 2.75 x 6 inches.



For more information about the Advanced Manufacturing and the Plastic Technology programs, please call 320.629.5100 or online at www.pine.edu/programs/advanced-manufacturing-technology-programs/.




 

Friday, December 11, 2015

Technology improves access to child care training


 
Technology is helping programs like Child Care Aware (CCA) connect with their constituents in every corner of their 17-county service area, from as far north in Grand Marias to their own neighbors in Pine City. In an effort to improve accessibility to training courses, CCA is introducing mediated telepresence courses.

Mediated telepresence (MT) courses allows participants to access training from sites throughout the district to a trainer located at another site. MT training even allows for remote connections from anywhere via computer or mobile device, so providers can access face-to-face training from home.

Child Care Aware – whose mission is to promote high-quality, affordable and accessible child care of all Minnesota families – provides training courses to those in child care, whether they are licensed family daycare or center-based. Not only are many of these courses required for licensing purposes, but they are also used to earn star ratings under the voluntary Parent Aware rating system.

The goal of CCA courses are to provide high-quality training for providers to get children ready for school.  MT will expand CCA’s ability to offer courses, while increasing the availability of training to established and new providers.

“For some providers, the drive to a training site can be more than two hours, and this is after a long work day. So this gives them options,” said Wendy Walburg, district coordinator.

Mediated telepresence classes will help providers in Pine City, too. When there aren’t enough students to fill an on-site class, the training might be cancelled. Because MT courses are broadcast from an originating site to multiple locations, CCA is able to offer a wide variety of classes without the concern of the number of attendees per site.
 
Go online for more information about CCA's professional development and training. To register for training or to request more information, call 320.629.5164.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Anderson earns Mark Welter World Citizen Award


Pine Technical & Community College student Kevin Anderson is one of 20 students from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities selected for the Mark Welter World Citizen Award. The scholarship award honors MnSCU students who exemplify the thoughts, words and actions demanded by a 21st century world citizen. Anderson is enrolled in the gunsmithing and firearms technology program at PTCC.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Daudt, Rarick focus on early childhood ed, funding at PTCC


Minnesota Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt and Rep. Jason Rarick made a stop at Pine Technical & Community College during a recent tour of the region.

Pine Technical & Community College Dean of Students led the Representatives on a tour of the college, providing them an opportunity to see how legislative funding through HEAPR and leveraged equipment funds has an impact on student learning.

Following the tour, the pair met with PTCC students, faculty and staff for a listening session. While funding for the college continued to be a focus of the listening session, conversation started with funding for education at a much earlier age.

Funding $100 million for early childhood education was one of a top accomplishment for Daudt. “I’m proudest of the work we’ve done there. My goal is to fund scholarships for every student living in poverty,” he said.

Annette Weaver, professional development support coordinator for Child Care Aware, expressed her gratitude, as children in the region will be recipients of some of those scholarships. She also expressed concern about regional early childhood education providers’ ability to access the training needed to achieve a three star Parent Aware rating. “If we could get that deadline extended by even a year, would be a help,” Weaver said.

Turning back to funding for the college and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, Daudt thanked the faculty and staff for their work in preparing the workforce. “We have employers that have positions they can’t fill. We funded MnSCU because of the innovation ways you’ve found to meet employer needs,” he said.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Pine Technical & Community College named to Military Times 20 Best for Vets




 
The Veterans’ Center on the PTCC campus is a place for students who are veterans, active service members or family to meet, connect with resources and even study. From left is Veterans’ Club advisor Chris Morgan, Duluth Vet Center Readjustment Counselor Stacy Rhodes, Veterans’ Center student worker Daniel Sawatzky and Veterans’ Club student president Haven Badrawi.

 PINE CITY, Minn. – Pine Technical & Community College is proud to be included in Military Times Best for Vets: Career and Technical Colleges 2016 rankings. PTCC was ranked number 17, one of only two Minnesota schools to earn a spot in the top 20 career and technical colleges.

 The organization, made up of Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times, focused on culture and curriculum that caters to military veterans when conducting and scoring the annual survey of schools that self-identify as career and technical colleges.

 “We’re very honored by this distinction, because it continues to validate our efforts to help veterans achieve their education goals,” said PTCC President Joe Mulford. “After the sacrifices our veterans and active service members make, we’re proud to give back.”

 “This is an important distinction because it shows that the college not only cares about their veteran students, but care enough to share what they are doing in hopes of making it better on a national scale,” said Chris Morgan, a veteran who is now PTCC’s Cyber-Security instructor and Veteran’s Club faculty advisor. “The Military Times website is a one-stop-shop for not only active duty, but all veterans from all branches to find out the latest information that effects them and their benefits.”

 As with all of the Best for Vets rankings, Best for Vets: Career & Technical Colleges is an editorially independent news project that evaluates the many factors that make an institution a good fit for military veterans. Career and technical colleges respond to the same Best for Vets: Colleges survey as two-year institutions on up.  The survey tool is a highly respected analysis of a college’s complete offerings for veterans.

It’s not just the items measured in the survey that make PTCC a veteran-friendly school, according to Morgan. “I can sum it up with one word -- attitude. As a 26 year Air Force retiree, I never expected the treatment I received when I first started here at PTCC. I was welcomed with open arms and treated like I was family,” Morgan said. “My transition to civilian life was not easy. I have numerous deployments and years spent away from my family. I joined when I was 17 years old and the military was all I ever knew. The administration and staff at PTCC understood that and became like a second family to me almost right away. It is this “attitude” that has led PTCC to receive this distinction, I have no doubt.”

 “It’s the people like Shawn Reynolds (financial aid director and veteran’s coordinator) and Paula Hoffman (dean of students) that ensure this program is meeting the veterans’ needs to ensure current and future success,” Morgan continued.

Pine Technical & Community College has an active Veteran’s Center and Veteran’s Club on campus. In addition, admissions and financial aid staff can assist veterans identify and claim their education benefits. For more information about PTCC’s programs, including information regarding how to apply call 320-629-5100 or online at www.pine.edu.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Rep. Nornes and Rep. Rarick visit PTCC


Pine Technical & Community College President Joe Mulford confirmed the impact of state legislative support can have on the college’s ability to purchase cutting edge equipment for its programs, such as the transmission dynometer, purchased through leveraged funds and matches through federal grants and PTCC Foundation initiatives.
Rep. Bud Nornes, chair of the Higher Education Policy and Finance Committee, and district 11B Rep. Jason Rarick visited Pine Technical & Community College to conduct town hall meetings with students, faculty and staff. It was also an opportunity for the PTCC community to demonstrate the importance of legislative support.

From facility improvements to new equipment, funding support at the legislative level is vital in helping Pine Technical & Community College serve the needs of its students, area employers and the community as a whole.  

From the auditorium which hosts college classes and community events like the recent Hwy 61 Film Fest, to the-state-of-the-art science lab, state HEAPR (Higher Education Asset Preservation and Renovation) funds have had a huge impact on the facility, allowing the college to continually improve, President Joe Mulford told the representatives while touring the campus. Additionally, leveraged state funds allowed PTCC to purchase a transmission dynometer for PTCC’s automotive technician program, replacing the outdated equipment that was purchased used 40 years ago.

Students were appreciative of the tuition freeze legislation, which has kept tuition rates at Pine Technical & Community College to some of the lowest in the state. “I’m proudest of what we did there, because the focus was on where we could do the most good,” Nornes told the students of his work in higher education policy.

Students at the forum expressed concerned about access to technology on campus and high speed internet throughout the region.

The faculty and staff echoed that concern, along with the high cost of housing in east central Minnesota. Because many of the college’s students are place-bound, PTCC has been creative in providing opportunities to students through collaborations with partner colleges. “Because of our collaborations with other colleges, we offer pathways to our students they wouldn’t have otherwise,” faculty member Melissa Felland told the representatives.
 
As a graduate of a vocational college, Rarick recognized the significance of the opportunities PTCC provides to the community. “I know the importance of vocational education and the need to provide this type of education so we can replace the workforce. Schools like this are important,” he told the PTCC faculty and staff.


High-tech simulation healthcare lab



Students voice their concerns and support.


Faculty and staff have a Q&A session with Rep. Nornes and Rep. Rarick.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Walmart supports Bridging the Dream Scholarships for PTCC students

Walmart and Associates made a generous donation to the Pine Technical and Community College Foundation for Bridging the Dream Scholarships. Walmart Manager Cody Schmitz presented Pine Technical and Community College President Joe Mulford with a $2500 check. Walmart Associates are very instrumental in supporting the grant money distributions, and President Mulford and the Foundation Board appreciates their generous donation.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Pine Technical and Community College honors staff for years of service


Pine Technical & Community College honored staff and faculty for their years of service. In the first row, from left to right, is Dawn Sandberg, Continuing Education and Customized Training assistant, five years; Tony Mueller, computer science faculty, five years; Amy Kruse, chief human resources officer, five years; Ann Boldt, English faculty, 10 years and Kris Hanson, Advanced Manufacturing Education Alliance employment and education advisor, 10 years. In the second row is President Joe Mulford; Dave Defenbaugh, gunsmithing and firearms technology faculty, 35 years; Kerry Fridstrom, Rural Information Technology Alliance industry certification and educational advisor, five years; Paula Hoffman, chief student affairs officer and dean of students, 10 years; Stephen Cody, computer programming faculty, five years; Luke Pederson, grants project accountant, five years and Dave Pixley, maintenance, 30 years.

 
Not pictured: Sandi Carlisle, president’s assistant, five years; Patty Gerhardson, nursing laboratory assistant, five years; Jodie Haavisto, business office, five years;  MaryAnn Schefers, business offices, five years; Keven Wanless, gunsmithing and firearms technology assistant, five years; Teresa Pierce, business office, 10 years; Lisa Hosna, business office, 20 years and Rita Watson, human services eligibility worker faculty, 25 years.

Friday, June 26, 2015

New Transmission Dynamometer Arrives!

Pine Technical and Community College now has an electric Transmission Dynamometer. This new equimpment will be benefical to our Automotive Technology students -- giving them the oppotunity to work with some of the newest and high-tech equipment in the field. Want more information about PTCC's Auto program? Go to http://www.pine.edu/programs/automotive-technology/. 








Thursday, May 14, 2015

Dr. Musgrove honored with scholarship


The PTCC Foundation Board was cooking up a plan to honor Dr. Musgrove even as he was grilling up grub for the annual PTCC Ribfest. The Board, in appreciate of Dr. Musgrove's leadership, renamed the Bridging the Dream Scholarship to the Dr. Robert Musgrove Bridging the Dream Scholarship.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Partnership with Pine City and Pine City Area Early Childhood Coalition recoginized


The Initiative Foundation recently honored community and business leaders in Central Minnesota for their outstanding contributions to the community.
Pine Technical and Community College, Pine City and the Pine City Area Early Childhood Coalition received honors for their dedication to early childhood literacy through the Dragon Wagon project, which delivers books and learning materials throughout our rural community.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Education Investments Pay Off

 

Education Investments Pay Off

 
Pine Technical and Community College strives to provide superior education and social services that enhance the communities we serve.

For some PTCC students, this may include utilizing the Disability Services Office. Human Services Eligibility Worker (HSEW) student Sandra Blake is one of those students. Blake came to PTCC in August 2013 and started working with the Disability Services Office right from the start. The Disability Services Office has “helped me to know that here is someone to talk to when I really need someone to talk about what I’m dealing with, like homework and tests, and how to direct me to places where I can receive the proper accommodations,” explained Blake.

Blake’s hard work paid off, and she made it on the fall 2014 dean’s list for her first time. “I’ve never achieved anything like this before,” she exclaimed when she found out about her success. As she reflects back on her time here at PTCC, Blake has rightfully become quite proud of herself. “My greatest accomplishment here at Pine Technical and Community College has been being able to move forward in my life and do something in my life that I never thought I could do, or would do. And here I am doing it and almost ready to graduate,” she said.

I relate this story because it illustrates one of the many powerful ways that Pine Technical and Community College provides opportunities for all Minnesotans to create a better future for themselves, for their families and for their communities. This particular example was possible because of the outstanding work of our dedicated faculty and staff, but also because we had the resources to make it happen. We made an investment, and it paid off.

The legislative session has just six weeks until completion. Legislators are considering many important investments, among them funding for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, which of course includes PTCC. Maybe you’ve heard about our funding request and maybe you’ve been wondering what it’s for and why it’s so important. If that’s the case, here’s what you need to know.

Our colleges and universities have two primary sources of funding: tuition from students and appropriations from the state of Minnesota. Thanks to the legislature and Governor Dayton, we have frozen tuition for the last two years, making college a lot more affordable for students in East Central Minnesota. With the exception of a funding increase last session, over the past fifteen years, state support for higher education has been on a steep decline. Since 1999, Minnesota has cut funding by 53 percent. We used to lead the nation when it came to supporting our state colleges and universities, but now we lag far behind. Once we were 21 percent above the national average, and now we’re 20 percent below. It has become increasingly difficult to offer opportunities like [the story described in the introduction].

Our ability to offer these opportunities has never been more important. Within five years, fully 74 percent of the jobs in Minnesota will require some postsecondary credentials. At a time when the demographics of the state are such that 70 percent of our growth will come from underserved populations, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is the only resource able to respond: our colleges and universities serve more first-generation students, more students of color and American Indian students, more low-income students and more veterans than all of Minnesota’s other higher education options – combined.

Counties in our region have traditionally had the lowest rates of college degree attainment in the state.  In an effort to change that, Pine Technical and Community College has redefined our mission to be a more fully comprehensive college. We provide opportunities for our young people to start their four-year degree close to home through the Associate of Arts degree, making college education more affordable and providing new opportunities.

So as you hear about all the many investments being considered this legislative session, I hope you will keep higher education in mind. Making access to college possible for all Minnesotans, meeting the future workforce needs of Minnesota, and protecting our ability to deliver programs to make that happen – these are all things worthy of our investment.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Sara Jensen receives Mark M. Welter World Citizen Award


 
Pine Technical and Community College is pleased to announce Sara Jensen is one of 20 MnSCU students to receive the Mark M. Welter World Citizen Award.
 
Thanks to Dr. Welter’s generous donation to our colleges and universities, the following twenty students have been selected to receive $500 Mark M. Welter World Citizen Awards for the spring 2014-2015 academic year. Awards can be applied to recipients’ accounts for tuition, fees and/or books.
  

2014-2015 Mark M Welter World Citizen Awards Recipients
1)      Makdela Belai – Minneapolis Community and Technical College

2)      Beatrice Magoka – Riverland Community College

3)      Saami Ahmed – Minnesota State University-Mankato

4)      Michele Nelson – Southeast Minnesota Technical College

5)      Le T. My Pham – Inver Hills Community College

6)      Abigail Bak – Northland Community and Technical College

7)      Haley Bloomquist – Mesabi Range College

8)      Pheng Xiong – North Hennepin Community College

9)      Daniel Bennett – St. Cloud State University

10)   Amber Page – Minnesota State Community & Technical College-Moorhead

11)   Lawonda Henderson – Saint Paul College

12)   Cecilia Pompeo – Normandale Community College

13)   Erick Taft – Metropolitan State University

14)   Corey Culver – Century College

15)   Sara Jensen – Pine Technical and Community College

16)   Belinda Kotulski – Dakota County Technical College

17)   Natasha Dusek – Vermilion Community College

18)   Scott Cowan – Minnesota West Community and Technical College

19)   Talia Fluth – Anoka-Ramsey Community College

20)   Christine Perno – Rochester Community and Technical College

Phi Theta Kappa members inducted


 

 
The Beta Kappa Rho Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Pine Technical & Community College recently inducted new members. Establish in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society recognizes and encourages the academic achievement of two-year college students. Those inducted in the March 30 ceremony include, front row, from left, Nicole Miller, Jeneane Klemann, Jena Coyour, Bethany Floding, Michael Filler, Mitchell Beckwith and Kasson Larson. PTK officers and advisor in the back row are Carrie Moffet, Robyn Miche and Tony Mueller. New inductees Charity Felde, Shelly Ketchmark and Vanessa Koski are not pictured.