Tag: Windham High School

Windham High School ECO students graduating with College Certificates

In 2016 Quinebaug Valley Community College teamed with Windham High School, creating the Windham Early College Opportunity (ECO) program, to provide students a chance to earn college credits in manufacturing disciplines. There were many questions along the way about curriculum, student engagement and funding sources. QVCC was creative in making this happen through College Career Pathways resources, the Windham Board of Education, and the help from the Eastern Workforce Investment Board (EWIB).

Beginning their freshman year, Windham High School students took several classes in advanced manufacturing at their school, earning 10 college credits in Manufacturing Math II, Blueprint Reading I, Benchwork and Computer Assisted Drawing. As juniors, in the summer of 2019, they attended QVCC and took Milling I and Lathe I, earning four more credits (paid for by the Windham Board of Education). Support from the Eastern Workforce Investment Board helped with a critical CNC Fundamentals course, which set students up to take one remaining class, Safety in the Workplace. This one-credit course completes their Level I certificate.

By the end of the fall 2020 semester, the students will have completed QVCC certificates in Machine Technology Level I and Advanced Manufacturing Machine Technology II. 30 credits will apply directly to an Associate Degree in Technology Studies for those who wish to continue their education. Director and Instructor Stephen LaPointe is actively seeking out opportunities to start their careers in manufacturing in the Windham area. “I’m impressed with their long-term commitment to completing this journey. The students have come together as a cohort and have relied on each other for support in so many ways. Transportation has been one of the biggest obstacles, yet they made it work. This shows me they have determination and will make great employees in the manufacturing world, which will benefit our community tremendously.”

There is a continuous pipeline of Windham High School students that have committed to this pathway to a successful career in manufacturing. In September, Windham ECO student, Karen De Los Santos Dominguez and Stephen LaPointe participated in a roundtable with Governor Lamont at Eastern Connecticut State University, hosted by ECSU President Elsa Nunez with Board of Higher Education President Mark Ojakian. The discussion was focused on coping with COVID in the current environment and how on-ground classes can continue to run for hands-on learning. Karen provided valuable insight into her positive on-ground experience at QVCC’s Danielson campus.

Learn more about QVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at qvcc.edu/manufacturing.

As the demand rises for skilled manufacturers in Connecticut, so does the initiative of Quinebaug Valley Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. As a result of the Windham High School Early College Opportunity (ECO) Program, the QVCC Manufacturing program is providing local high school students with the academic foundation and applied experience to have successful manufacturing careers.

Students at Windham High School (WHS) have the opportunity to gain manufacturing skills through related courses offered by the high school, such as MFG 124 Blueprint Reading I, MFG 105 Manufacturing Math II, and MFG 153 Benchwork. This summer, incoming seniors at WHS continued their coursework at QVCC by taking two more manufacturing classes, MFG 154 Lathe I and MFG 155 Milling I, leaving only two classes left for students to complete the Basic Manufacturing Machine Technology Level I Certificate. At the end of the four-week period, 18 students completed the Lathe I course and 12 students completed the Milling I course. Five of the students from Lathe I did not take Milling I due to opportunities to participate in paid internships at Electric Boat and other companies. Funding for the Windham High School ECO Program is provided through College Career Pathways (CCP).

QVCC also runs the Intro to Manufacturing Pipeline, a 7-week, 210-hour program with five programs scheduled to run from September 2019 – June 2020. Working with the Eastern Workforce Investment Board, students are recruited and placed in manufacturing jobs at Electric Boat and other Eastern CT businesses.

For more information about QVCC’S Advanced Manufacturing Program, visit us at the Advanced Manufacturing Information Session and Registration Day on Saturday, August 10 from 9-10am.