T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS — Marshalltown Community College machine tool technology student Elizabeth Hessenius works to shape small metal parts Wednesday. The machine tool and welding programs will lend their curriculums to a new degree approved by the Iowa Valley board Wednesday.

Marshalltown Community College students looking to get into the trades will have another option after board of directors action Wednesday evening.

The board approved a new advanced manufacturing technology associates degree after committees on the college’s existing welding and machine tool technology programs gave feedback on the need for such training.

“Essentially, it’s a marrying of the best parts of two programs we already have,” said Marshalltown Community College Provost Robin Lilienthal at an academic and student affairs subcommittee meeting Wednesday.

That meeting came prior to the board’s final decision. Lilienthal and MCC Dean of Academic Affairs Patrick Kennedy shared the program proposal with Iowa Valley Board President Larry Johnson, Vice President Paul Paulsen and member Joanna Hofer.

The new degree will be offered beginning next fall. It combines aspects of the college’s machine tool technology and welding programs.

The curriculum is meant to prepare students for careers in industries where metal is cut and shaped into parts for other tools, or fusing metal parts together for manufacturing purposes.

“It meets the expressed desire of industry and our advisory committees,” Kennedy said.

Along with the welding and machine tool tech programs, the advanced manufacturing technology program will join the automotive repair technology, electro-mechanical systems technology and utility technician skilled trade programs at Marshalltown Community College, among other programs.

Lilienthal and Kennedy said the new program would offer traditional and non-traditional students an opportunity to learn new skills that could get them into a career or help them advance at a current job.

“It’s the optimal use of the resources we already have here at the district,” Lilienthal said.

The administrators said the advanced manufacturing tech program will not require any new staff or equipment to offer to students because it shares with two existing programs.

“It really is a win-win situation for us,” Lilienthal said.

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Contact Adam Sodders at 641-753-6611

or asodders@timesrepublican.com