Three Rivers College's program that teaches about mechatronics and robotics is proposing some curriculum changes that could lead to students earning their degree in less time with the same amount of work.
Program Manager for the Process and Controls Program Jim Dow came before the TRC Board of Trustees on Wednesday afternoon to report some of the changes within the department since the retirement of the previous manager over two years ago.
"We are going through some major revisions at this time," Dow said.
The major curriculum consideration Dow proposed to the board was the change of 16-week courses to eight-week courses using a "flipped model."
The big difference in this change is students enter with the information to apply in the hands-on portion of the class.
This outline has been proven to be extremely successful with tactile learners who learn best by doing the physical activities, which Dow said describes a majority of his students.
More intense lab work would also be allowed with the longer class sessions of eight-week courses, he added.
Needed updates are being conducted, including the program's textbooks, which range from 1994-2014.
Many of the program revisions Dow presented to the board were based on feedback received from industry partners, he said.
"We are wanting to greatly increase blueprint reading skills in all programs," Dow said. "We are also wanting to change from just paper blueprints to CAD training."
Paper blueprints are still used extensively, Dow said, but almost all come in a CAD format and without knowing the program, documents are not accessible.
The program is also looking to add welding, networking and mechanical courses to the class options.
"At the present time we have no mechanical courses," Dow said.
Upon graduation, students from the Process and Controls Program will enter the workforce in primarily manufacturing jobs. Depending where graduates go for these jobs, entry level can begin at $11 to $17 per hour and advance to $18 to $30 per hour.
This mixture of proposed courses will better prepare students to program, repair and operate machines once entering the workforce.
According to Dow, manufacturing workers today overlap in these areas and are usually required to know how to repair the machine they operate.
"You can make a good living and people are wanting these students to the point they are trying to hire them before graduation," he said.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Chief Financial Officer Charlotte Eubank reported revenues were "very similar" to the prior fiscal year through Aug. 31.
Enrollment is slightly behind last fiscal year, but the college budgeted for a 5 percent decrease, putting TRC in similar view of last year.
Auxiliary enterprise expenses are tracking ahead 25 percent into the college's fiscal year, Eubank reported, but this comes from the bookstore's purchase of textbooks for the new semester.
"This will be more than offset by their revenue, so it's not a concern," she said.
Main items in the capital budget include finishing the Libla Family Sports Complex and the Crisp Technology Center addition and remodel, which has been budgeted for, but not began as of yet.
Other various projects include a landscaping and lighting project.
A bid for lighting from Voss Electric Company of Fenton, Mo. was accepted for $16,309.04. With the bid awarded, Eubank said the lighting poles will be ordered to complete the project.
LIBLA FAMILY SPORTS COMPLEX UPDATE
President Dr. Wesley Payne reported the sports complex continues to progress. The floor was installed this week and workers will begin sanding and completing the initial finish, Payne added.
TRC EVENTS
Payne also informed the board of the many events that will take place around the college over the next several months.
* Ray Charles & Company, a tribute starring Willie Nash, will be held at 7 p.m. tonight, at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $15.
* About 150 musicians from Southeast Missouri State University will come to the Tinnin Fine Arts Center for Imagine: Connections at 7 p.m. Oct. 22. The event is free.
* Center Stage's next production, "Alice in Wonderland," will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 1-3 and 2 p.m. Nov. 4. Payne encouraged anyone who was unable to see Center Stage's last production, "The Little Mermaid," to not miss this performance.
* The next gallery show will be "Conundrum Creatures" running from Nov. 2 through Dec. 7 with Michael A. Baird's artist lecture at noon Nov. 2 in the Tinnin Gallery.
* The first of two shows where the Patrons of the Arts and the Rodgers Theater have teamed together will be Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver at 7 p.m. Nov. 3. The award-winning progressive bluegrass/gospel ensemble will perform at the Rodgers Theater and tickets are $15.
* The TRC Music Department student recital, "Imagination at Play," will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Tinnin Theater and is free to the public. Music students at TRC must perform publicly as a part of their educational process, so Payne invites the community to support the students.
* Deadline nominations for the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award are due Nov. 14. "We encourage anyone from the public to submit a nomination so that we can honor one of our past students," Payne said.
* Kennett Trivia Night will be held at 5 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Kennett Country Club to benefit the TRC-Kennett student success fund. Registration information can be found at trcc.edu/development/events.
* "Oh Happy Day: Goin' Back to Gospel," a variety show featuring a group of Branson vocalists will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $15.
The next TRC Board of Trustees meeting will be at noon Nov. 28 in the board room at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.