Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
It isn't pretty on the outside and it won't be an interior designer's dream inside, but wonderful things will happen at Ivy Tech's Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center.
The facility will be open for classes beginning with the spring 2007 semester to students seeking an associate's degree in manufacturing technology and the WED manufacturing skills training program which leads to a new national certification in manufacturing skills standards (MSSC).
The building will house CNC machining centers (lathes and mills), industrial maintenance trainers, welding stations and AutoCAD lab, according to Tracie Davis, Ivy Tech's marketing and communications director.
"The orthopedic industry came to us and said they need trained workers," Davis said. With a grant from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and capital development money from the Ivy Tech budget, the college had the building constructed. It is being leased from David VanVactor, who owns the property.
The college will purchase new equipment and stay current with the latest in machining technology.
"The orthopedics industry faces the retirement of many of its workers in the next few years," Davis said. "They have to be replaced and we want to provide the training."
The three Region 2 campuses, Warsaw, Elkhart and South Bend, are approved to offer testing for the national certification.
The 5,600-square-foot building can accommodate a maximum of 100 students taking classes in five sections.
"We'll be offering flexibility, so the entire space may not be filled at any given time," Davis said. "We could have a minimum of 300 students trained from opening of the center to June 30. The AAS program begins in January, the number of students served will be higher in the 2007-08 academic year."
The college also will offer instruction on a contractual basis.
If a business wants a certain number of employees to learn a new skill, the college will provide the instructor and work around the employees' schedules.
Ribbon cutting,
grand opening
The community is invited to attend the openings of the new Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center and the new Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation Medical Assisting Lab on Oct. 4.
The training center's open house is from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with the ribbon-cutting at 11:15 a.m. at 980 Executive Drive, in McElroy Hill Industrial Park, Warsaw. The entrance is off CR 150W, south of U.S. 30W, across from Medtronic Sofamor-Danek.
The same day, an open house for the Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation Medical Assisting Laboratory is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with the ribbon-cutting at noon at the Ivy Tech-Warsaw campus, 3755 Lake City Highway.
A casual lunch will be held at the Ivy Tech-Warsaw campus from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Make reservations for the lunch by calling Sharon Meerzo at 574-267-5428, Ext. 6111, or e-mail her at smeerzo@ivytech.edu.
Ivy Tech Community College is the state's second largest public post-secondary institution with more than 75,000 students enrolled this fall.
With 23 campuses, it serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana.
On the Net:
www.ivytech.edu
