WISCONSIN RAPIDS - During the Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) Board of Directors meeting held Monday evening, the Board approved a Steamfitter Service Apprenticeship program. Pending approval from the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, the program would be offered in spring, 2008. According to Dr. Sue Budjac, Vice President of Academic Affairs, over the past year, MSTC's Apprenticeship Coordinator and coordinators from Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC), Western Technical College (WTC) and Northcentral Technical College (NTC) met with the United Association-Steamfitters and Plumbers regarding a Steamfitter Service Apprentice program. "Employer feedback during the program investigation stage documented a need for training on the service side of this industry." She said MSTC would house the Steamfitter Service Apprenticeship program and each of the other technical colleges would offer a section in their respective districts and cover their operational costs. NTC and MSTC will partner to share the costs for a Steamfitter Service section in Mosinee.

In other news, the Board learned the college received notice a Workforce Advancement Training (WAT) Grant MSTC submitted was approved. According to Dr. Budjac, this over $44,000 project will enable the college to provide 528 hours of instruction to 110 hourly and salaried employees of Domtar Corporation. Training will be at the Port Edwards and Nekoosa plants and at MSTC's Wisconsin Rapids campus between now and June 30, 2008. "This training will increase the number of welders, improve project management skills of plant engineers, increase computer skills of hourly lead workers and increase supervisors' coaching, change management and negotiation skills," said Dr. Budjac. At the end of the meeting, Facilities Director Craig Hjelle and Director of College Advancement Kenneth Urban, lead the Board through a tour of the remodeled library, cafeteria and portions of the industrial building. Hjelle and Urban provided explanation about the areas' new features and the work completed for each project.

The next Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors meeting will be held Monday, September 17 at the Marshfield campus. Committee meetings are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., with the regular Board meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. To learn more about MSTC programs and services, please call 888.575.6782 or visit the college's website at mstc.edu.