Masonry Magazine February 2006 Page. 24
INDUSTRY TRAINING
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College,
Rice Lake, Wis.
Instructor: Todd A. Larson
Number of Students: 13-14
This masonry program has been in existence since 1993. Instructor Todd Larson developed the curriculum under contract with the Brick Distributors of Wisconsin-the same curriculum is now being used in two other technical colleges in Wisconsin. The program is a one-year, post-secondary program where students earn a technical diploma.
The program's goal is to give students the skills needed to succeed as entry-level masons. This is accomplished through a 32-week program, incorporating lab time and instructor-led internships where the students build community projects.
For more information, visit www.witc.edu.
Mercer County Technical Educational Center,
Princeton, W.V.
Instructor: Carl W. Pruett
Number of Students: 33
The masonry program at Mercer County Technical Education Center (MCTEC) was established in 1970, and instructor Carl Pruett has been on staff since 1985.
This year's masonry class is working on structures at the center and at feeder high schools. Some of these projects are being built completely by MCTEC students.
The class's next project is a 40° x 50' addition to a football field house. The students began by estimating and preparing purchase orders for the masonry materials to match the existing building. The students poured the footer last spring and started the block work in the fall.
Pruett said, "Allowing students to construct live projects is a slow process, but it saves the county money and gives the students a great deal of fulfillment knowing they participated in building a structure that will last for years."
Some of the past projects consist of basements for Habitat for Humanity homes, park pavilions and new signs at the school. In the past three years, the students have brick-veneered a spec home in partnership with the wood techniques program and an area lumberyard. Students also take courses in communications, math, blueprint reading. estimating and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety.
For more information, visit http://mctec.merc.tec.ww.us.
Milwaukee Area Technical College,
West Allis, Wis.
Instructor: Tom Pscheid
Number of Students: 16
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) has offered masonry education and training for more than 50 years. Courses range from basic bricklaying to advanced blueprint reading and estimating. Training can be customized for contractors, and the school also offers training to individuals with no masonry experience. Course content and instruction are continuously updated to reflect the latest trends in the industry. Throughout the training, the instructors stress high quality workmanship and industry standards.
Each spring semester, MATC offers a 16-credit program designed to prepare individuals for employment in the masonry industry. The program's focus is hands-on trowel training. Throughout the training, the instructors stress high quality workmanship and industry standards. Training is supplemented with courses in construction safety, scaffold user certification, math, basic blueprints, and job-related work habits and attitudes. Community projects cap off the students' training.
Graduates possess the skills and knowledge to successfully enter into the masonry profession. Many MATC graduates are now journey-level masons, forepersons and superintendents, and some have become contractors.
For more information, visit www.matc.edu.