Did you know math is a skill that a welder must master? Welders must know how to measure materials and calculate cutting force, understand how heat can warp metal and weld seams together, read scales used on blueprints, and determine the exact amount of materials to use. A welder must be familiar with fractions, decimals, geometry, and trigonometry.
Aviation mechanics will spend time in a variety of positions as an integral part of their training. This enables them to put the theoretical knowledge learned in a classroom into practice and allows them to pick up new skills. During training, a positive experience is vital for the aviation department as well as the aviation mechanic themselves. Here are a few tips on how to make that happen.
With an increase in air travel, the addition of budget airlines to the aviation industry, expanded routes and the commission of new and more advanced aircraft, the demand for highly trained aviation mechanics will continue to grow. The millennial generation is the next in line to become aviation mechanics, but they have a specific set of requirements as they pick their career. First, we will review what a millennial is. Then, we will talk about what the millennials are looking for in a career. Finally, we will take a look at some of the ways with which the aviation industry can attract millennials, as well as how to retain current employees.
By Jennifer Paugh, MIAT College of Technology Canton President
Fall is the season that students and families commonly associate with “going back to school” or “going off to college.” Even “new traditional” education (education and training for the “adult” learner) is impacted by the inclination for people of all ages and in all stages of life to return to college during the Fall.
MIAT College of Technology faculty and staff bear witness to the trend that a greater number of high school graduates as well as older adults are “going back to school” for career and technical education: We have had the distinct pleasure of welcoming the highest number of new students for enrollment in recent years at our Canton campus for the Fall 2018 start. Our total student enrollment this Fall is approaching 500, with new students who started classes on September 10 representing approximately 10% percent of the overall student population.
Why is enrollment increasing at career schools like MIAT?
While contributing factors are many, one is that the state of Michigan is embracing a “return to the trades.” This sentiment is forwarded in no small part by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder along with many other city and township elected officials who have identified the need for qualified industrial and technical workers as a priority for the local and state economies.
MIAT’s new Electro-Mechanical Technology program has generated considerable interest because trained technicians are needed for manufacturing, construction, automotive, and many other industry sectors. Also, with the celebration of our 50th year of continuous operation fast approaching in 2019, MIAT is benefitting from the excitement and support of our employer partners and the communities that we serve by helping them to address their training, workforce readiness, and employment goals.
What programs are the most popular this Fall and why?
We consistently experience higher enrollment in our aviation maintenance programs every Fall semester; however, this year, we’ve seen unique progress and exponential growth in our Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) program. Our HVACR faculty is doing an excellent job of being actively involved with the communities surrounding our Canton campus, and our local HVACR employers are spreading a positive message via “word of mouth” about the quality of the students who are graduating from this program. People characteristically want to be a part of a professional team, and our HVACR students, graduates, and faculty are enjoying great success in Michigan and around the country.
Student and employer satisfaction are top priorities.
Not only does MIAT offer extensive services to students while they are enrolled in our programs, we also continue to offer outstanding career services support upon their graduation. Last week, we hosted a career fair at our Canton campus with the active participation of about 40 employers, thus enabling both our current students and graduates to interact and interview with potential employers throughout the day. Last week’s career fair is one of many that we plan to host on campus throughout the coming year. As an additional benefit, MIAT has an open invitation to employers to come to our campus to present to students or to interview candidates for open positions and externship opportunities.
Special thanks are due!
To all the students who have entrusted us at MIAT with their education and training, we want to say thank you for choosing MIAT. We are committed to addressing the needs of our students throughout the course of their training, ensuring that our students have a positive and productive experience with our school and that they acquire the skills necessary for a successful and rewarding career following graduation.
Our Admissions team does an excellent job of ensuring a mutual fit for our incoming students. The Financial Aid team works diligently to ensure that students have a financial package that is appropriate and manageable for them. Student Records coordinates the registration process and all new student orientations. The Training Department assists students in adapting to MIAT’s learning environment both in the classroom and in the lab.
Supporting the needs of all students, alumni, and the families who expect financial and quality of life benefits from our graduates, as well as meeting the expectations of the employment community for trained workers, is truly a huge group effort at MIAT. I am especially grateful to every one of the dedicated women and men who make our school and our campus the welcoming and effective place that thousands have come to know and trust. Our faculty and staff are outstanding.
For more information on our programs or to arrange a campus tour, please visit www.miat.edu or call 800-447-1310.
The field of aviation mechanics is changing. There are trends occurring now and on the horizon that promise to transform the way maintenance work is carried out in Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in the United States and around the world.
Most of these trends are technical and will affect every area of aviation—from the biggest airlines to the smallest private airline operators employing a Director of Maintenance and perhaps a crew to maintain their plane or fleet of planes.
The demand for aviation mechanics now and in the coming years is trending up for both those already in the field as well as those who plan to attend a technical skilled trades school to pursue a career within the field.
Are you interested in learning all about industrial machines and tools, including their design, uses and maintenance? Are you a critical thinker and problem-solver? Consider a rewarding career as an Electro-Mechanical Technician! MIAT offers two electro-mechanical training programs that can take as little as 12 to 18 months to complete.
By John Willis, MIAT College of Technology Houston President
Labor Day serves as a reminder for me that career education and technical schools such as MIAT College of Technology are filling a much-needed demand for skilled workers – welders being among them. Employers are accepting and addressing the fact that welders and other skilled workers are aging out due to retirement, and there is a growing gap of new workers to fill these roles
The Gulf Coast Region of the U.S. is home to a heavy concentration of oil and gas, chemical, and power generation providers, which necessitates a huge demand for welders and other skilled professionals. Welders are also needed in the ship-building, manufacturing, and construction sectors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the need for welders is expected to grow by 26 percent by 2020. Jobseekers who are open to pursuing a career in welding can typically expect better than average starting pay, excellent benefits and long-term employment opportunities in a wide range of industrial sectors.
The mission of MIAT is to provide workforce training that addresses the critical labor needs of employers, and I am proud to report that our Houston campus is welcoming our first Welding Technology students in September. Pun intended, we are pleased to share that interest in our Welding Technology program has been steadily “heating up” over the past month. We are responding as quickly as possible to requests for information, tours of our campus, career counseling sessions with our admissions representatives, financial assistance and housing assistance.
Our faculty, staff, instruction rooms, computer labs, and new welding booths are well-equipped to accommodate small class sizes of 15 to 20 students. Based on their career goals, students can choose between a 3-, 7- or 9-month program and can attend either day or evening classes. Students who complete our welding programs will be qualified to pursue jobs with titles that include aluminum welder, brazer, cutter, fabrication welder, shielded metal arc welder, pipe welder, sub arc operator, welder, welder-fitter and welder/fabricator.
MIAT is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and has graduated thousands of students since we were founded in 1969. Without a doubt, launching any new career training program always takes an extensive amount of time, talent, effort and patience. In early 2017, several members of our Houston faculty and staff began working with me behind the scenes to develop our Welding Technology curriculum and to pursue accreditation. I am especially thankful for tremendous assistance from Juan Bernal, Lead Welding Instructor, and Rich Whiteside, Director of Training.
Our Welding Technology Programs, as well as all MIAT career education programs at our Houston campus and our Canton campus near Detroit, were developed collaboratively with industry representatives who serve on our Program Advisory Committees. In addition, our equipment has been reviewed and approved by our Program Advisory Committee.
Roc Taylor, a member of our Program Advisory Committee and owner of Building Solutions, Inc., had this to say regarding our new welding program: “MIAT’s program gives an appropriate and more than adequate length for students to become proficient in a multitude of welding processes.”
I hope you will explore our Welding Technology program offering and tell others about us. I also invite you to visit www.miat.edu/programs/welding-technology/ or call 888-547-7047 for more information. Campus tours are available by appointment.
I appreciate your help in spreading the good news about MIAT, our new welding program, and our role in equipping employers with much-needed skilled workers.
By Jennifer Paugh, MIAT Canton President
As a leading career college in the United States, MIAT College of Technology strives to stay abreast of and in sync with employers in a wide range of industries to equip them with skilled workers. To that end, MIAT secured approval last month to begin offering our first Electro-Mechanical Technology Program at our Canton campus and our first Welding Technology Program at our Houston campus. (Please see our news release announcing these programs: https://www.miat.edu/news-and-press/miat-college-technology-introduces-welding-programs-houston-campus-electro-mechanical-technology-programs-detroit-metro-campus/).
Our Canton faculty and staff are gearing up now to welcome our first Electro-Mechanical Technology students in September, with the first day of class set for September 10th, 2018. We are offering 12-and 18-month Electro-Mechanical Technology programs. We anticipate class sizes of about 25 to 40 (split between two sessions) at about four enrollments per year. Our capacity for the entire calendar year is about 100 to 160 new electro-mechanical students. Those who complete our 12-month program will earn a certificate. Those who complete our 18-month program will earn an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences. We anticipate that the first graduation ceremony for this new program will be scheduled for early 2020.
Meeting Critical Needs in the Work Place
MIAT began behind the scenes efforts to offer this program in early 2017. We knew then and it has been confirmed many times since then that the demand for our electro-mechanical program graduates is great. MIAT graduates will be well-positioned to work in a variety of critical electro-mechanical technician roles in numerous industry sectors.
Employer involvement in our new program has been tremendous. We are especially thankful to representatives from a special group of companies who serve on our Program Advisory Council and who have played a key role in assisting with the development of our Electro-Mechanical Technology curriculum. I would like to recognize PRAB, Inc., Methods Machine Tools, Inc., and Innovative Automation, Inc. for their contributions and support. In fact, these companies invited MIAT to their facilities to film television ads and other promotional videos for this new program.
Another deserving shout out goes to Derek Cichewicz, one of our knowledgeable and charismatic MIAT instructors. Derek has been responsible for writing the course curriculum for this program. His energy and enthusiasm has propelled this new program to an amazing and enviable level of support from community leaders in Canton and the Detroit metro area. Additionally, Rich Rau has worked tirelessly to ensure that our Electro-Mechanical Technology lab is ready for our new students in this program. Lastly, a special mention is also due to Chris Davis, one of our MIAT high school representatives, who is laying the groundwork to offer our Electro-Mechanical Technology Program to high school students at some point in the near future.
The atmosphere at MIAT’s Canton campus is electric! Launches of new programs serve as opportunities to stimulate innovation, growth and positive change. While an extensive amount of work is involved in launching any new program for faculty and staff, we all benefit from the process of mobilizing and galvanizing our collective time and talent for such a major offering as is our first Electro-Mechanical Technology Program.
MIAT welcomes inquiries and campus tours. To arrange an appointment or to learn more, please visit www.miat.edu.
Thank you now and always for your support.
Welders and metal cutters are in high demand with the increased growth of infrastructure, construction and aerospace. A certification preparing you for an entry-level career in welding technology can be obtained from a trade school in less than a year.
With our 9-month welding technology program, you will learn a variety of different arc welding techniques including SMAW welding, MIG-GMAW welding, and TIG-GTAW welding.
By John Willis, MIAT College of Technology President, Houston
August and September are traditionally associated as “Back to School” months. As a lifelong educator, I believe that any time is the right time for school. I am one of those individuals who has never left school: I have been attending or involved with some type of educational or training institution for the last 40 years. Whether you are a recent high school graduate, military veteran returning to civilian life or looking for a career change, I encourage you to pursue your educational goals. The first step is always the most difficult. It may not always feel like the “perfect” time, but it is always the “right” time to start school.
Joining MIAT College of Technology as president of the Houston campus three years ago was the perfect opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the educational community in Houston. I had been working at the same career institute for almost 20 years, and I knew I was ready to accept a new challenge. MIAT College of Technology exists to help student of all ages and at all stages of their life and career. I am honored to have been chosen to lead and grow our enrollment and our curricula with the goal of making a positive, lasting impact on our students, their family, their employers, and their communities. And I am extremely thankful for the support of my enthusiastic and committed team of instructors, advisors, high school representatives, and administrators.