PTC grows in enrollment and with expanded facilities

With Fall, 2012 courses starting this week, PTC marks another year of remarkable growth. Compared to last year’s fall start, enrollment has increased by 2.3 percent, and students continue to register through the end of the week.

PTC administrators attribute the growth to a number of things, including a new medical assisting program, a new business information technology program, and more courses offered in alternative formats and schedules. In preparation for the fall semester’s anticipated jump in enrollment, the college had been busy building new classroom space, as well as repurposing and enhancing existing facilities for much of the summer term – a time where, historically, student traffic is limited. With a new medical assisting classroom and lab, an added classroom building located to the main building’s east, new office space for the college’s Child Care Resource and Referral staff, as well as two new storage buildings on the south side of the campus, the campus now boasts seven buildings and a total of 102,654 square feet.

“The additions and improvements go hand-in-hand with our overall goal of enhancing the educational experience of our students,” says PTC President Robert Musgrove, Ph.D. “It’s part of our mission in providing superior and relevant education, and to that end, it’s important to provide the right kind of learning environment supported with updated technologies to facilitate student learning,” Musgrove adds.

The campus’s most notable changes include its new, state-of-the-art medical assisting lab – a space specifically designed for students enrolled in the college’s new medical assisting A.A.S. degree. The combined laboratory and classroom boasts the latest in phlebotomy (blood-drawing) and electrocardiography training facilities and technologies, as well as patient examination tables and designated student learning and instruction space.

“I am so proud of all PTC has accomplished to bring this program and facility to fruition,” says Medical Assisting Program Instructor Nanci Milbrath. “With the curriculum we’ve established combined with a technologically-advanced lab equipped with all the right tools and more, our students have everything they need to achieve success,” Milbrath adds.

Additionally, to accommodate growth in all areas across programs, the college has added a modular building on the east side of the campus. The 2,016 sq. ft. structure also is equipped with advanced technologies to facilitate instruction and student learning, yet serves as a temporary solution for accommodating the college’s ongoing growth. Also new to the campus is a 1,144 sq. ft. prefabricated structure, built by students in Pine City High School’s Industrial Arts class, specially designed and created to house PTC’s Child Care Resource and Referral staff – a department previously housed within the college’s main building. The department is comprised of seven staff members, and their new office space contains offices and workstations for each, a restroom, and a kitchen.

“We have everything we need in the way of workspace and technology, and we’re just about 50 feet away from the main building,” says Child Care Resource and Referral Executive Director Wendy Walburg. “It’s so cozy and comfortable to come to work here; we affectionately call our new building ‘the cottage,’” Walburg adds.

PHOTOS AT TOP

TOP
PTC’s new medical assistant program classroom and laboratory.

MIDDLE
PTC’s new, temporary classroom located on the campus’s east side.

BOTTOM
PTC’s “cottage,” home to the college’s Child Care Resource and Referral department.

PTC partners with Strengths Strategy, Inc. to offer professional development course

Pine Technical College and Strengths Strategy, Inc., announce a new training partnership to bring strengths-based professional development to students taking courses from PTC’s Continuing Education and Customized Training department. Strengths Strategy, Inc., a Minneapolis-based training company, offers a simple, concrete training approach for employees and leaders that creates measureable improvement in employee engagement, leader effectiveness, and organizational success. Students are invited to register and attend a 90-minute introductory, interactive learning session led by DeAnna Murphy, Strengths Strategy CEO, on Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at PTC.

“We’re very excited to offer this training to our clients. Strengths Strategy brings a level of expertise that will make a significant improvement in their profitability and ability to create jobs,” says Jason Spaeth, PTC’s Dean of Continuing Education and Customized Training.

Organizations that participate in the full range of Strengths Strategies results-driven learning experiences can expect to see individuals six times more likely to be engaged in their work, which can lead to as much as a 43 percent increase in productivity and as much as a 36 percent increase in individual performance. The Strengths Strategy approach goes beyond teaching employees and leaders how to understand their own strengths and those of their team members, to actively applying those strengths to realize outstanding business results.

“This is a great opportunity for PTC to deliver experiential learning where the knowledge can be implemented and the results measured,” says Heidi Braun, PTC CECT Program Director.

PTC’s Continuing Education department offers a broad range of courses designed for an individual's professional growth and development, and PTC’s Customized Training department provides education and training tailored to businesses’ specific needs. Overall, the CECT department provides quality workforce training and development to help grow and prosper the Pine Area. To register for the 90-minute introductory, interactive learning session with Strengths Strategy, Inc., call Dawn Sandberg, 320-629-5176.

Paula Hoffman appointed Interim Dean of Student Affairs

Paula Hoffman has been appointed to serve as Interim Dean of Student Affairs, filling a vacancy created when Nancy Mach, former Dean of Student Affairs, retired July 1 after serving in the role for more than eight years. Hoffman is no stranger to the higher education landscape, nor PTC, having served as PTC's Director of Academic Planning since 2008, and prior to that, Hoffman served as Integrated Service Project Grant Coordinator in PTC's Employment and Training Center since 2006. Additionally, Hoffman has instructed, teaching PTCG 1225 - Job Seeking and PHIL 1271 - Critical Thinking in Modern Society.

"It's already been nearly one month since I've taken on the Interim Dean position, and I am so happy I did," Hoffman says. "Throughout my career, I have been committed to creating a holistic environment for student success, and now, leading the student affairs department gives me the opportunity to pair my academic affairs, my teaching experience, and my knowledge and understanding of student success in a way that will uniquely contribute to the goals of PTC. I am more than excited to join Student Affairs, especially at this time, where we are readying for the start of the new academic year," Hoffman adds.

Hoffman holds a B.S. in Secondary Education/Social Studies from St. Cloud State University, an M.S. in Education-Professional Studies, and she continues to work on her Ph.D. in Post-Secondary Adult Education.

"As an educator and skilled administrator, Paula understands the educational and student service needs of our students, making her ideally suited for this role," PTC president Robert Musgrove, Ph.D., says. "Her experience in multiple roles at this college, combined with her formal education and training, have really prepared her for this senior leadership position, and we recognize we are very lucky to have her," Musgrove adds.

Photo at top: Paula Hoffman.

With new H2P grant, PTC's healthcare programs and new online resource, Virtual Career Network, flourish

PTC is part of the national Health Professions Pathways (H2P) Consortium that received a total of $19 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College & Career Training Grants funded through the U.S. Dept. of Labor, and the college is using the H2P grant to enhance and expand its healthcare training programs. The H2P grant goals are to increase the preparation and support opportunities for health profession training, provide training in competencies needed by industry, and develop assessment measures for continuous improvement.

“Healthcare training and healthcare jobs are very much in demand,” says Melissa Johnson, Education and Employment Advisor at PTC. “According to our research, available jobs in healthcare are projected to reach more than four million by 2015,” Johnson adds.

Healthcare careers are available for all skill and education levels. Students are encouraged to use the Virtual Career Network (VCN) – a site that includes information on more than 80 careers, 11 of which require less than one year of education and 37 that require just a two-year degree. By using the VCN, students can:

• Explore healthcare careers and answer questions such as, “What do jobs like this pay?” or “What is it like to be a nurse/technician/medical coder?”
• Decide which healthcare career is the best fit and use online assessments and tools to compare options based on interests.
• Identify education and training needed, and see what education, training, licenses or certifications are needed get and hold a job.
• Locate an appropriate instructional program and find courses, training and other programs near a user’s ZIP code.
• Access test preparation materials and online courses, and take courses directly through VCN for academic preparation.
• Find and apply for financial aid.
• Get credit for prior learning; determine whether courses taken through an employer, in college or while in the military may be eligible for education credits.
• See job demand in specific geographic areas, and cross-reference occupational matches with local job openings.

For more information about PTC’s programs in healthcare, including its new associate degree in medical assisting, visit: http://www.pinetech.edu/academics/catalog-and-programs/nursing-and-health-science.

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and its many education, healthcare and workforce development partners developed VCN through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The H2P Consortium includes 10 community colleges and partner employers in collaboration with community-based organizations that are galvanizing a national movement to dramatically improve health professions training. H2P offers accelerated progress for trade impacted and low-skilled and other workers who are preparing for the competitive health care workforce.

High school students get a jump-start on college with the PSEO program

The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program (PSEO) was created in 1985 as a means to promote rigorous educational pursuits and provide a wider variety of options for students. Through PSEO at PTC, high school students take PTC courses that satisfy requirements for both high school and, of course, their college credits.

"We're seeing more and more high school students take advantage of the PSEO program each year," says Jodie Klinkhammer, Assistant to the Dean of Student Affairs at PTC. "It's an excellent way to both stimulate high school students who are ready for college material, as well as introduce them to college life and motivate them to set long-term academic and career goals," Klinkhammer adds.

The program is available to students throughout the state, and students from nearly every Minnesota public high school earn credits through PSEO from programs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Through PSEO, students may take courses on a college or university campus or, where available, at their high school. PSEO courses offered in high school are sometimes called concurrent enrollment courses.

"The program is not for everyone. To be accepted, students must score 'college-ready' on the Accuplacer test," Klinkhammer warns. "But, if you are committed, it's very, very worth it, since the program is offered at no cost for participating students and their families. So, it's wise to get in and take as many college classes as you can to reduce your cost or your family's future cost," Klinkhammer explains.

To apply to the PSEO program at PTC, students should contact their high school guidance counselor(s) to obtain the proper documents, as well as gain advising regarding particular courses that will work in the student's favor. Additionally, students should contact Jodie Klinkhammer at PTC, 320-629-5117, or e-mail KlinkhammerJ@pinetech.edu.

PTC partners with HigherOne to provide safer, more seamless financial aid disbursement process

PTC has partnered with HigherOne, Inc., a financial services company focused solely on higher education, to offer faster, safer, and more environmentally-friendly delivery of financial aid funds. In the spring, 2012 semester, PTC students voted in favor of the college pursuing the partnership, and now, staff members in PTC's Business Services department are on track for an August, 2012 launch date.

"We've been looking into the partnership since last summer, and after a lot of discussion with students and administrators, it makes good sense in the way of student service to utilize HigherOne," says Janis Wegner, Chief Financial Officer.

Within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, 16 institutions have contracted with and are utilizing the services provided by HigherOne. Additionally, the company serves more than 800 institutions and six million students across the nation.

Currently, PTC disburses financial aid refunds by way of mailing paper checks. Historically, the process has been effective and efficient; however, with enrollment ever-growing, the process is becoming more time-consuming and cumbersome, and the risk of errors increases with growth as well. By partnering with HigherOne, students will have the option of choosing how they receive their refunds: via direct deposit into an existing bank or credit union account; via a new HigherOne OneAccount; or, via the old-fashioned way -- by getting a paper check in the mail.

Artwork by Kiersten Scott on display in PTC's art exhibit

On display now through September, 2012, in what PTC has affectionately dubbed the “Pine Art Gallery,” are original works of art created by Kiersten Scott.

Scott has been creating works of art since 2007, having started early in high school with a painting class. With just one course, Scott was inspired to further explore her artistic side and since then has been creating artworks in many media.

"I enjoy many forms of art and creating art, and I'm proud to have a few of my pieces showcased at PTC,” Scott says. "I enjoy painting, and my own favorites are done in acrylic,” Scott adds.

Scott graduated from Cambridge-Isanti High School in 2010, and since then, she has continued painting in acrylic, as well as working with pottery and drawings. A graduate of Central Beauty School in Cambridge, Minn., she also is able to apply her artistic streak as a cosmetologist.

The Pine Art Gallery features works of original art created by established and/or emerging artists from the Pine Area, embracing the talent and creativity of Pine Technical College students and the larger Pine community. The exhibit changes seasonally, and many kinds of artworks are showcased, including paintings, photography, pottery, sculptures, sketches, wood carvings and more. If you are an artist from the Pine Area and wish to exhibit your works in the Pine Art Gallery, see the Pine Technical College Marketing Director in Student Affairs.

Scott also works as a freelance painter; to contact her regarding commissioned pieces, e-mail: kierstenlorrene@gmail.com.

Images at top: Examples of artwork by Kiersten Scott on display in the Pine Art Gallery, on campus at PTC.