EVENING DEGREE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP LOCAL INDUSTRIES

Area employees in the industrial sector are taking advantage of an opportunity to advance their technological skills through an evening degree program offered by the School of Polytechnic Studies and the School of Extended Learning at Southeast Missouri State University.

Employees from local companies such as Procter & Gamble, Nordenia USA, Fru-Con Construction, St. Francis Medical Center, and HAVCO Wood Products are earning their associate of applied science in computer technology degree in automated manufacturing. The 68-credit-hour degree program takes four years to complete since students take two courses each semester.

"The program is providing our employees knowledge and hands-on experience with the most current automated technologies," said Larry Stahlman, employment and public affairs manager at the Cape Girardeau Procter and Gamble plant.

With input from the companies, the program provides a foundation in math, science, computer, and communication skills. The program includes courses on electricity, electronics, programmable logic controls, industrial controls, fluid power, robotics, print reading, computer aided engineering graphics, machine tool processes, computer numerical control, computer programming, automated manufacturing systems and statistical process control. Students who complete the associate degree can move directly into the bachelor of science degree in industrial technology with no loss of credit.

"We are doing our best to provide adult students, many with full-time jobs and families, opportunities to improve their careers," said Kim Madigan, adviser in the School of Polytechnic Studies.

Student Bryan Seyer said, "The rotating evening schedule and special services have made it possible for me to return to school." Special services are provided to make the program more accessible to students and to accommodate their busy schedules.

Many of these services, including admissions, advising, registration, and textbooks, are delivered to the students' classrooms. Students also are provided special evening parking privileges.

Dr. Randy Shaw, dean of the School of Polytechnic Studies, said several area industries approached the industrial technology department at Southeast two years ago to see if something could be done to meet the high-tech educational needs of the companies and their employees. These industries, as well as most others in the region, have recently undergone significant changes to remain competitive in the global economy, he said.

"This has increased the demand for employees who possess advanced technical skills," Shaw said. "With the shortage of available new employees, more and more companies are investing in the advanced education of their present employees."

One challenge encountered in attempting to launch this program was the need to meet a variety of company work schedules, he said. Therefore, an evening program with rotating class schedules was designed to reach as many employees as possible. Sixteen students enrolled in the program last fall. Another 14 began the program this semester.