Expansion is Coming!

  Finally, after years of talk, things look as though we will be moving into our new facility this coming summer.  The Machine Tool program at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology will be doubling its current enrollment and with the new Greiner Campus facility will be almost tripling the size of the program space.  Construction is on schedule and we are making final preparations for the move.
  The efforts and capital investment involved in the creation of a new state of the art facility is evidence of the demand for the skills acquired in the Machine Tool & C.A.M. program at Stevens College.  Despite the fact that we consistently have 5 or 6 job offers per graduate, we continue to struggle with recruitment.  Many of the old stereotypes of manufacturing and machining exist and many people simply are unaware the opportunities available.  During the design phase of the new Machine Tool facility a great deal of consideration went into not only the functionality of the space but also the appearance and how this can impact recruiting.
  Polished epoxy floors, modern lighting, and metal wall panels will will greatly assist in emphasizing the high-tech industry of modern machining.  We are currently discussing the creation of becoming partners with machine tool builders in an effort to increase our current inventory of machine tools and we are hoping in time to double that inventory.  When a someone visits the Machine Tool program for the first time they will be immediately struck by the high-tech atmosphere and the old stereotype of machining being a loud, dangerous, and dirty environment will be challenged.
  It is obviously a very exiting time at Thaddeus Stevens College and especially in the Machine Tool program.  Many more changes and updates are on the horizon so please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Timelapse of Construction

Gov. Wolf Visits Thaddeus Stevens College of Tech.

    Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf paid a visit to Thaddeus Stevens College of Tech (TSCT). and spent time in the Machine Tool Program.  Gov. Wolfe was greeted by the students and the industry representatives on the programs Occupational Advisory Committee.

Machine Tool students, Alexis Nolt
and Branden Wagner pose with Gov. Wolf.

    Gov. Wolf spoke to various students and listened to employers explain the importance of the training provided at  TSCT and the difficulty of hiring employees with relevant skills.  The message was made clear to Gov. Wolf but one employer said it best, "If you come to this college and major in Machine Tool, you are guaranteed a job."  

  "The future of Pennsylvania is in places like this," Wolf said in a classroom of students.  "That's what I talked about in my budget." His budget proposes spending an additional $15 million on community colleges and two-year technical schools like Thaddeus Stevens.

    It was a good day for the college and we would like to think that Thaddeus Stevens College of Tech. may start to get the attention       it deserves.

   

New Inventory Management System Introduced

Students being trained to use new system

Through the generosity of the MSC Corporation, Stevens students in the Machine Tool & C.A.M. program are now gaining experience using an Inventory Management System.  This vending system, which is now situated in the middle of the Machine Tool Lab, will benefit students by introducing them to a tool management system that is increasingly found in industry.  The college will also benefit from this system by greatly reducing and managing costly inventory and by streamlining the process of replacing broken and worn tooling.

The system, which consists of one high security drawer cabinet and three lower security Lista cabinets, will control the usage and inventory for all the programs cutting tools, precision measuring tools, and hard gauges.  Students access the inventory by first swiping their student ID cards and then by navigating through the selections by the using the systems built-in touch screen.  The system also allows students to return items after use and will maintain a constant inventory of stocked supplies. 

The benefits of student exposure to this system is obvious but with Thaddeus Stevens College gearing up to double enrollment by 2017, the inclusion of this system will also make the growth much more manageable for the instructors.  Coordinating resources for 100 students is a daunting task, especially when you consider that 50 new students are introduced every year.


For more information about MSC's Inventory Management System visit:
www.MSCDirect.com/solutions/vending

Haas Trainers Improve Student Experience at TSCT

TSCT students using new Haas trainer controls

When four new Haas CNC machines were recently purchased, the Machine Tool Technology program at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology also received four new "trainer" controls.  These controls are fully functional and can be used to program both turning centers and machining centers.

The addition of these trainers is already having an impact on student training and output.  With more access to machine controls, whether at the actual machine or on a trainer, students are able to complete assignments much faster than in the past.  Because the training
at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is very project based, the amount of material covered is limited to how much time students can spend using  equipment.  Increased student access to CNC machine controls is translating into more hands-on-training, a more in-depth curriculum, and graduates who are more prepared to succeed.

New equipment for this program is funded in whole or in part by a grant from the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, to support the increased capacity of the College.

New Year Brings New Equipment

Haas ST-10 Lathe

The Machine Tool Technology program at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology recently purchased four new Haas CNC machines.  These new machines will compliment the existing equipment in the lab area and will greatly enhance the hands-on training received by students.

Two Haas ST-10 Lathes and two Haas Mini Mills were delivered in early December and the final installation was completed during winter break.  The new machines are ready and waiting for the next semester to begin and students will be using these new machines immediately.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology has been teaching the machining trade for over a century and our graduates can be found all over the country.  Technology has changed greatly over that time period and the addition of these new machines is an example of how Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is dedicated to the success of our students.

If you wish to visit the facility and see the new equipment, please feel free to contact me.

Additional student trainer controls

New equipment for this program is funded in whole or in part by a grant from the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, to support the increased capacity of the College. 

Thaddeus Stevens College Receives State Grant

"You have chosen very well," Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Julia Hearthway said to students during her visit to  Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology earlier this year. Secretary Hearthway was at Thaddeus Stevens College to announce the award of a $148,970 JOBS-1st- PA Tech Grant.

Part of this money will be used to purchase two CNC machines for the Machine Tool and C.A.M. program. The CNC machines will be added to Stevens' existing equipment and is part of the schools initiative to upgrade facilities and equipment while doubling class size.

The expansion will be accommodated by moving the Machine Tool program to the Greiner Campus, a new campus Stevens is building at a former National Guard Armory nearby. It is projected to open in the Spring of 2017.

My Future Career Website

Alexis Nolt, Manheim, PA

At Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, we have created a website to aid high school students make career choices.  The website is called My Future Career , myfuturecareer.us , and it was made possible through donations made by supporting businesses.

When a student visits the site, they will be asked questions to determine what some of their interests are and are then directed to a career they are likely to find interesting.  Included in the site are numerous videos with both graduates and present students explaining their career and why they chose it.
We have just completed another video that has yet to be added to the site so I am premiering it here. Alexis Nolt is the student in this video and she is from Manheim, PA.
Let me know your thoughts.

Video Link