Masonry Magazine June 1999 Page. 38
Students Build Masonry Technology Center
A class project became a jobsite, and then a classroom
The new bricklaying and masonry students at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC)-Rice Lake are learning about their trade in the Masonry Technology Center, a new lab that opened this fall. It looks just like the other buildings on campus, but there is one major difference. It was built by WITC students.
Students have been coming to WITC to study bricklaying and masonry since the inception of the program six years ago. Until recently, it was the only school in the state to offer the program.
Kurt Bents, Dean of Instructional Operations, said the program is unique because of the cooperative effort between the Brick Distributors of Wisconsin (BDW) and WITC in getting the program up and running.
"They came to us, foreseeing a shortage of employees," Bents said. The organization wanted to join forces with a technical school to address the issue. They chose WITC-Rice Lake because of other programs that had been developed, namely, wood technics and architectural commercial design.
Bents worked with Walt Peters, Dean of Planning; Todd Larson, Bricklaying and Masonry Instructor; and the BDW to develop curriculum and receive state approval. The program was operated via a contract with BDW for the first two years. They paid all expenses of the program, even the staff.
"The strongest asset to this program is the two instructors," Bents said. Todd Larson was hired when the program began, and Scott Carlson joined the staff when a second section was added. "They have very, very strong masonry skills and desire to pass on to students the curriculum and methodology. Employees and contractors are happy with the level of skill our students have after one year."
From a meager start with only eight students, the program has grown each year. Students have come from all over the state, including Appleton.
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38 MASONRY MAY/JUNE, 1999