Techniques Nov-Dec 2012 - 59

Career Curve

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

Blackhawk Technical College
BLaCkHawk TeCHnICaL COLLeGe (BTC) is one of the 16 schools
that make up the Wisconsin Technical College System. Serving approximately 14,000 students annually, BTC offers approximately 50 programs leading to an associate degree, technical diploma, certificate or apprenticeship. BTC notes that career and technical education (CTE) today focuses not just on technical skills, but also soft skills. As a result, BTC has identified seven related topics of soft skills or core abilities, that are crucial to success for students before and after graduation. The industrial engineering technician program offered at BTC is ideal for all students, but it is especially well suited for working students since it is offered parttime and in the evenings. BTC designed the program to train individuals to serve as technicians in the fields of industrial engineering and manufacturing production, and the flexible schedule, which includes several core courses in a self-paced format, means most of these working students are able to earn an associate degree in three to five years. First-semester courses for those entering the industrial engineering technician program include Intro to Computer-Aided Drafting, Engineering Drawing and Measurement, Manufacturing Materials and Processes, Written Communication and College Technical Math 1A. In the second semester students study Ergonomics and Workplace Safety, Facilities Planning, Oral/Personal Communications and College Technical Math 1B, among others. The second year of the program includes such courses as Industrial Organization and Structure, Principles of Sustainability, Think Critically and Creatively, General Physics I, and Standards and Regulations.
www.acteonline.org

Take Your Students To A Higher Level

BTC equips students of any age with the technical and soft skills that will make them desirable employees.
The beauty of this program is that it is offered on a rotational basis. Although there are prerequisites and sequencing for the math and science courses, according to Executive Dean Kirke Plank, “Students are able to begin and end at any time and progress through the rotation. There are many courses that are offered in a selfpaced format.” Upon completion of the program, BTC expects students to be able to use CAD software and supporting software application programs, support product design and participate in process design. They should also be able to plan facilities, perform quality functions and maintain a safe work environment while supporting shop floor activities. According to a recent Encarta article that named industrial engineering technicians second on its list of top careers, these graduates can earn $50,000 a year or more with only an associate degree. BTC equips students of any age with the technical and soft skills that will make them desirable employees—and the industrial engineering technician program represents a good example of all the school has to offer. For more information about Blackhawk Technical College and its industrial engineering technician program, visit www.blackhawk.edu.
Susan Reese is a Techniques contributing writer. She can be contacted at susan@printmanagementinc.com.
November/December 2012

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Techniques

Techniques Nov-Dec 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Techniques Nov-Dec 2012