Anoka Technical College and Fairview Healthcare Services received a $178,530 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to provide sterile processing training to employees at Fairview Healthcare Services.
Awarded through the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP), the grant allows Anoka Technical College and Fairview to create a three-year curriculum and clinical training program. An anticipated 290 employees from six Fairview facilities throughout the metropolitan region will participate in the clinical, lecture and lab training. Once the employees complete the training, they will take an internationally recognized certification exam. "This project will position Anoka Tech ahead of the curve by developing curriculum that meets certification standards before certification is mandated by state law, which is anticipated in coming years," said Tess DeGeest, director of resource development at Anoka Technical College.
Anoka Technical College’s communications department recently won three Medallion Awards from District Five of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). The awards include two gold medallions representing first place finishes in the logo design category and in the print ad series category. Anoka Tech also received a bronze medallion in the annual report category.
The first place logo design was for a logo that identified Next Step - a college initiative that provides dislocated workers the skills and knowledge they need to get back into the work force. The college also received a gold medallion for a series of print ads that appeared in restaurant bathrooms across the north metro. The general college information ads targeted teens, dislocated workers and veterans. The bronze medallion was for the college foundation’s annual report.
The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations is an organization for communicators working in college communications on two-year campuses. District Five of the NCMPR consists of schools from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Manitoba.
Great River Energy recently awarded the foundation at Anoka Technical College $1,500 for student crisis grants. Crisis grants offer financial relief to students experiencing a sudden and unexpected financial crisis for which no other sources of assistance are available. An ongoing supporter of the Anoka Technical College and of the college foundation, last year Great River Energy funded a grant of $2,500 for digital multi-meters for the electronics department. "We deeply appreciate Great River Energy’s leadership in supporting technical education. It is through ongoing support from community partners like Great River Energy that we are able to continue to serve our students and area employers," said Tess DeGeest, director of resource development at Anoka Technical College.
For the second consecutive year, the Judicial Reporting program at Anoka Technical College will record narratives from wartime veterans for the Veterans History Program, a project of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress. The mission of the Veteran History Project is to collect and archive the personal recollections of U.S. wartime veterans to honor their service and share their stories with current and future generations.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m., Judicial Reporting students will interview veterans from World War II, the wars in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Veterans will talk about why they enlisted, the actions they witnessed, their emotional state during combat and about returning home. Second-year Judicial Reporting students and volunteer working reporters will record the historical stories using steno writers.
If you know of a veteran who is willing to share his/her story and have it recorded for the Veterans History Project, contact Deb Longley at dlongley@anokatech.edu.
Aug. 24, 2009 - Anoka, MN – At the start of the fall semester, Anoka Technical College reports a record-breaking enrollment. The college’s fall 2009 enrollment is record breaking in two ways: first, according to college historians, it is the highest enrollment in more than 15 years; second, it is 23 percent higher than it was at the same time last year.
An early report from the college indicates 2,175 students are taking classes this fall. The college anticipates enrollment will increase even more as additional learners enroll and register in September to take advantage of classes that start in the middle of the semester. Anoka Tech’s fall 2008 enrollment was 1,748.
Anne Weyandt, president of Anoka Technical College, is pleased with the early enrollment increase. She credits the college’s ability to offer high quality, affordable technical educational opportunities that are fast, focused and flexible along with a re-aligned admissions processes that makes getting into college and getting an education as easy and as painless as possible, as the two primary factors behind the record-breaking numbers.
"The unprecedented increases in enrollment at Anoka Tech over the past three terms not only reflect the state of our national and regional economy," said Weyandt who added that "increased interest and enrollment in technical programs is indicative of the popularity of career education in meeting the needs of the current and future workforce. In addition, ATC's intentional emphasis on programs and services that meet the needs of adult learners and dislocated workers--expressed in the Next STEP initiative--helps students flexibly transition back into college."
President Weyandt also noted that the College has made substantial adjustments to accommodate the surge in enrollment: "our late afternoon and evening information sessions, drop-in admissions appointment schedule, expanded financial aid program and a variety of late start courses and online education options help make college accessible and affordable to those in our community in most need of our offerings in challenging economic times."
While the college celebrates what it has accomplished since last fall, Weyandt said staff and faculty will carry the positive momentum into the new academic year as they continue to serve students and to provide innovative career and technical education to help students live and learn well.
May 2009. During a time of year when people find tranquility at a quiet lake in northern Minnesota or in sipping a glass of lemonade under an old oak tree, many people found peace of mind in getting a technical education at Anoka Technical College. The college recently reported Full-Time Equivalent Students (FTES) for the summer semester were 25 percent higher than last summer. One FTE is equal to 30 credits.
College President Anne Weyandt credits the enrollment surge to a variety of student-focused strategies to bring people to Anoka Tech. "Anoka Tech’s continued strong enrollment growth reflects the alignment of our programming with student and community needs, particularly in difficult economic times," said Weyandt. "Our Next STEP initiative eases transition back into college for dislocated workers and is an example of a very strong partnership with our local workforce centers. Our local economy depends on the availability of skilled workers and it is our job to prepare students for emerging career options, especially in times of challenging and shifting work force needs."
June 2009. On June 16 and 17, over 20 representatives from the Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services (11 sites) and from the Anoka County WorkForce Center went to Anoka Technical College to learn more about the college and about an educational pathway for dislocated workers. The college also used the time to thank the workforce centers (WFCs) for supporting the college mission and to learn how the college can better serve unemployed individuals.
During the visits, the representatives listened to a testimonial from a dislocated worker, and were introduced to the Admissions process and to the Corporate Center. The afternoon ended with a tour of the campus.
May 2009. Two new natural science Minnesota Transfer Curriculum courses expand general education options for students and mark a first at Anoka Technical College. Beginning fall 2009, students seeking any Associate in Applied Science degree can consider either Plant Science (NSCI 1020) or Introduction to Environmental Science (NSCI 1030) when choosing general education courses. Offering two natural science classes as general education options marks a first in Anoka Tech history.
The Introduction to Environmental Science course will introduce students to key environmental issues and provide an understanding of natural systems and how humans interact and steward those systems. The Plant Science course will introduce students to plant structure and plant growth processes
.Press release submitted by the Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA)
SAINT PAUL, MN. - Anoka Technical College President Anne Weyandt was named the 2009 "President of the Year" Saturday, April 18, 2009 by the Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA). President Weyandt accepted the award at MSCSA’s Annual Awards Dinner at Breezy Point Resort in Breezy Point, Minnesota.
The "President of the Year" honor is bestowed upon one college president annually by MSCSA. President Weyandt was nominated for the award by the student senate on her campus, and chosen by statewide leadership to receive the honor. The award was presented by Thomas Berg, the Vice President of the Anoka Technical College student senate.
President Weyandt has served at Anoka Technical College since 2000, and named president in 2001. Prior to her role with the college, Weyandt served within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system as chief of staff, deputy to the chancellor, interim vice chancellor for labor relations, and system director for labor relations.
The Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) represents students attending the state’s two-year technical, community, and comprehensive colleges on 47 campuses advocating for more than 100,000 students across the state.
March 11, 2009 Anoka, MN - During a time when people have had a torrent of bad news and they are reeling from never-ending reports of financial and economic disasters, Anoka Technical College announces an innovative program that gives dislocated workers new skills and education and provides a sense of hope. The technical college, just 30 miles north of the Twin Cities, recently created Next STEP, a fast, flexible and focused pathway program for people who suddenly find themselves in dislocated worker programs.
The purpose of Next STEP, which is an acronym for Successful Transitions for Experienced Populations, is trouble free, said Anne Weyandt, president of Anoka Technical College. "Next STEP aligns our college programs and services with the Anoka County Workforce Center outreach efforts to create a seamless set of educational opportunities for dislocated workers and other adults seeking career and retraining options."
A unique concept of Next STEP is that it gives people an opportunity to start taking technical college classes at various times of the semester. The principle veers from the tradition of starting college classes at the beginning of the semester. "Instead of turning dislocated workers away and telling them they have to wait until summer of fall to start school," said Weyandt, "we are telling them they can start working on their diploma, degree or certificate today."
The academic programs with alternative start times include the Medical Assistant, Information Technology, Electronic Engineering Technology and Construction Electrician programs; the Manufacturing and Automotive programs will have summer start dates.
Not all of the programs at the college are offering alternative start days. The college leadership collaborated with the Anoka County Workforce Center to identify the academic programs that would give dislocated workers the real-life skills and competencies that would prepare them for the workforce when the economy turns around. "People are being eliminated from positions that are not likely to return," said Jerry Vitzthum, director of Anoka County Job Training Center. "New jobs are being created that require greater technical skills and new training. The two-year programs at Anoka Tech give people a superior education and the new skills they will need for the future."
Next Step is more than scheduling varied program start times; it is an entire package centered on the premise of providing dislocated workers educational opportunities. "We want to make it as easy and painless as possible for people who are suffering in this time of economic distress to access and secure the education and training they need without having to navigate typical governmental and educational bureaucracies," said Weyandt.
One of the obstacles the technical college faces is getting dislocated workers over the fear of taking the ACCUPLACER test - a math, English and reading assessment test that determines course selection - and of going back to school. In an effort to ease the transition, the college is hosting college information sessions - Tech Talks – every Tuesday. Coordinated by the admissions, financial aid and the student support services departments, Tech Talks are meticulously designed to provide participants with information on everything from preparing for the ACCUPLACER test, to buying books to graduation requirements.
For the dislocated workers who need to take Adult Basic Education courses, the college is offering Adult Tech Expect. Adult Tech Expect allows dislocated workers to sample some technical classes in programs such as welding, information technology or legal administration while they are taking their Adult Basic Education classes in math, reading and writing.
"Anoka Tech has worked closely with the workforce center to provide educational relief to dislocated workers," said Vitzthum. "They will be instrumental in getting people back into the workforce."
For more information about Anoka Technical College visit anokatech.edu or call (763) 576-4700.
Anoka Tech reports highest enrollment increase across the MnSCU system
March 2009. A 12.5 percent increase in enrollment at Anoka Technical College validates a theory that in tough economic times, people turn to technical education. A recent report from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system showed Anoka Technical College had the highest enrollment increase among its 32 colleges and universities.
The enrollment explosion at Anoka Technical College that equates to over 700 new students for the spring semester does not surprise the faculty and staff at the college. "Our numbers certainly reflect the trend across the country that when the economy declines, people go back to school for training and re-careering," said Anne Weyandt, president of Anoka Technical College. "But I also think we have done a great job in reinforcing the message that Anoka Tech offers high quality, affordable technical educational opportunities that are fast, focused and flexible. Our two-year associate degrees, diplomas and certificate programs give people the leading edge, in demand technical skills and knowledge they need to help turn the economy around."
College administrators are optimistic about the future. Located on west highway 10 in Anoka, the technical college has collaborated with workforce centers to develop a model that aligns the admissions process and academic programs with the needs of businesses and industries, and with prospective students. The college has streamlined many of its admissions processes to make getting into college and getting an education as easy and as painless as possible.
Anoka Tech is also offering varied start times for the sought after programs. Currently, 2,228 people are taking classes at Anoka Tech, but that number does not reflect the students who will take advantage of the Information Technology, Electronic Engineering, Medical Assistant and Supervisory Management classes that will start in late March, before the summer session begins.
People who are interested in learning more about the programs at Anoka Technical College can attend any of the information sessions held on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. or attend the college Open House on April 9, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
Anoka Technical College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.