Saturday, February 25, 2006

Electromechanical Instructor (now they are talking!)

IF they are serious about the program, AND they are seriously looking for a "qualified" instructor AND they are willing to put money into the labs (I left $60,000 of mostly donated equipment.... IF it is still intact, then another $100,000 (which is basically the grant money I was counting on to build a decent hands-on program) should make the training relevant.
I salute TMCC for finally coming to their senses acknowledging an industrial electrical / automation / i&c department is a major cornerstone of a manufacturing technologies program. Below is what they are now looking for (actually most of this job description was written when I held the IMT instructor position). I will be urging the administration to hire an instructor with superior industrial experience (at the minimum fifteen years) and vocational / technical training experience (at least a dozen or so years). This is a clear departure from the previous idea of using part-time instructors (with no oversight by an experienced industrial trainer).

Electromechanical InstructorTruckee Meadows Community College,
located in Reno, Nevada, is accepting applications for an instructor to develop and deliver a relevant and progressive curriculum in electro mechanical and related fields within the Applied Industrial Technologies department. The position provides support to the manufacturing, electronics, and industrial systems programs and will be responsible for coordinating instruction in electronics, pneumatics, hydraulics, programmable logic controllers, and industrial systems.
Source - Reno Gazette Journal - Reno, NV http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobseeker/jobs/jobdetails.aspx?pf=true&Job_did=JN2SN6D2038NCKS1J3

Full description at: https://jobs.tmcc.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1140927733734

posted by cl @ 8:17 PM 0 comments

Monday, February 20, 2006

Letter to RGJ.com/Business re: workforce development

Denny………

You hit the nail right on the head (Building a quality workforce takes a whole community). Of course this has been the topic of conversation ever since I moved here 13 years ago! “A team of technical and policy experts have been working to launch a plan”… is something I have heard more than once.
I do believe “The role of higher education and business is to teach specific job skills." There are many qualified and skilled tradesmen and businessmen who have attempted to work with the local Community College, but if they are not “academics”, they are quickly dismissed (TMCC is a master at forming committees to study the problem; those in the committee who have ideas that don’t fit within the “semester structure” of academia are ignored.
I fear you will be throwing good money down the rabbit hole if you think the current administration of TMCC will be teaching anything except “soft-skills” (there are some notable exceptions, but these successes were the result of hard work long before the current administration took over). No… Community College’s today are far from the agricultural/vocational trade school of years back. They are all scrambling to hire as many PhD’s as possible and (the holy grail) offer 4 year degrees.
While I hate to see another layer of educational bureaucracy, this state needs a system of technical colleges which are focused on actually training students to fill high-tech high-wage jobs. Having academics administering vocational/technical education just is not working!

posted by cl @ 8:29 PM 1 comments

Building a quality workforce takes whole community

By: Denny Martindale special to the Reno Gazette-Journal February 20, 2006
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060220/BIZ06/602200304&SearchID=73236269006191
Where would your business be without a quality workforce?
One of the biggest issues facing our community and the entire country, as a matter of fact, is the future of a quality workforce. This certainly isn't a new issue; however, it has become more recognized in recent months.
The Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with a number of community partners, has begun a process to address the issue of the workforce both in the short and long terms.
During the recent Directions Program, the annual economic forum co-sponsored by the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, many speakers talked of the shortage of qualified employees and some of the reasons why we are experiencing this shortage.
In a recent survey of chamber members, 61 companies identified 819 open positions. Other community studies have indicated far more new jobs will be on line in the next 18 months.
With an unemployment rate hovering at just more than 3 percent, the question of where these employees will come from arises… (article continues…. Please follow link above)

posted by cl @ 8:25 PM 0 comments

Monday, February 13, 2006

TMCC want's to offer 4 year degrees (???)

Re: Nevada State College plans expansion near Reno (joint venture with Truckee Meadows Community College).
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060213/NEWS07/602130341&SearchID=73235572904113
This is (one of) the stupidest ideas yet from the administration @TMCC
Ever since GBC was allowed to offer 4 year degrees (due to Elko's distance from a University) TMCC has had a bug in it's bonnet to be "The Harvard on the Truckee" (and they only need $35 million for starters).

NO NO NO!!! TMCC is a COMMUNITY College. We have a University here (right down the street).
Nevada ranks 49th in the nation for workforce education (& I think I know why).
Let the Board of Regents know what you think about this idea (use the link on the right side of the screen).
It amazes me all the politics that goes on instead of education (why can’t TMCC seem to get along with the other local units of the university & community college system)?
Why do we have to import our administration from the east coast?
I think it’s time for new management at TMCC.
Lets try some home-grown talent this time!

Posted to RGJ "letter to the editor"

posted by cl @ 8:11 PM 0 comments