By Jennifer Paugh, MIAT College of Technology Canton President

As the New Year approaches and 2018 is coming to a rapid close, now is a perfect time to reflect on our successes of the past, embrace our present situation, and anticipate an exciting future for MIAT College of Technology. Our MIAT faculty and staff are thankful for where we have been, enjoying where we are, and continuing to create new programs and opportunities for our students and graduates.

MIAT College of Technology will celebrate its 50-year anniversary in 2019.  We have more than 10,000 graduates of all ages, and we have equipped workplace-ready men and women for employers in a wide range of industries all over the world – aviation, manufacturing, power generation, oil and gas heating, cooling, refrigeration, and many others. During our 50^th Anniversary year, watch for profiles on our alumni, faculty, staff, and employers who have contributed to our amazing history. We want to highlight those who have helped make MIAT the viable career college it is today.

At a time when many other career colleges are experiencing declines in student population, we are in the fortunate position to be enjoying a trend toward increased enrollment. Enrollment at our Canton campus is up over the same period as last year. (more…)

The outlook for career opportunities as a wind turbine service technician continues to be bright, according to statistics from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Employment of wind turbine service technicians is projected to grow 96 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. Because wind electricity generation is expected to grow rapidly over the next several decades, additional technicians will be needed to install and maintain new turbines. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, total wind energy capacity is projected to be 113.45 Gigawatts (GW) across 36 states, up from 52.31 GW in 2013. By 2050. total wind energy capacity is expected to grow to 494.25 GW across 48 states.

Texas leads the nation in wind power with more than 21,450 megawatts; since 2014.  Wind power in Texas generated more electricity than both of the state’s nuclear power plants. (Source: https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX)

Quick Facts: Wind Turbine Technicians

Source: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm

Follow this link to information from the U.S. Department of Energy to see the projected growth of the wind industry through 2050.

https://www.energy.gov/maps/map-projected-growth-wind-industry-now-until-2050

Wind Power Technician Training

Offered over seven months, the Wind Power Technician Program at MIAT College of Technology campuses in Houston and in the Detroit metro area provides hands-on training, practical experience, and industry support. MIAT introduced this program at our Canton campus in 2008 and in Houston in 2010. We have been experiencing steady growth in student enrollment in this program over the past two years, with approximately 10 percent of our students in Houston and in Canton enrolled in the Wind Energy Technician Program this year. Typical class sizes range from 15 to 30 students, depending on the time of year when students enroll. Many or our students who complete our seven-month certificate program choose to continue with us for another eight months to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Energy Technology by studying online and on campus.

David Moriconi, Lead Instructor for the Wind Energy Technician Program in Houston, and other MIAT instructors at both campuses with years of experience working directly in the wind industry lead interactive classes and practical skills training.  Wind energy businesses are engaged in the development of our curriculum, provide guest speakers for our students, donate equipment for instructional purposes, and employ our graduates  —  many of whom are U.S. veterans.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of our Wind Power Technician Program are equipped for an entry-level career in the wind energy industry. MIAT alumni find jobs in the Texas panhandle and in the Great Plains States, as well as in other popular wind energy states such as California and Colorado, in service, manufacturing, construction, commissioning and sales. Our graduates can expect to secure a position with any of these and many other potential job titles:

• Wind Service Technician
• Wind Turbine Construction Technician
• Composites Technician
• Control Room Operator
• Generator/Winder
• Wind Turbine Sales Representative

Come Visit Us

Jennifer Paugh, MIAT College of Technology Canton President, and I welcome campus tours for anyone interested in our Wind Power Technician Program. Our staff members are available by phone, via email, or in person to address inquiries from employers, veterans, high school counselors, parents and prospective students about our curriculum, tuition, financial aid, housing assistance, and career services.

To learn more about MIAT’s Wind Power Technician Program, please visit

https://www.miat.edu/programs/energy/wind-power-technician-program/

Thank you now and always for your support of MIAT College of Technology, our students, graduates, faculty, and staff.   On behalf of all members of the MIAT College of Technology board of directors, I wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday celebration. Our campuses will be closed Thursday, November 22, and Friday, November 23.   Classes will resume as normal on Monday, November 26.

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.