11 September 2009Iron Range Engineering Program launched
An innovative engineering program called “a national model,” due to its hands-on, project-based and industry driven curriculum, was launched Thursday, September 10, 2009 at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia.
The Iron Range Engineering Program allows students who have successfully completed two years of engineering prerequisites to earn a four-year mechanical engineering degree on Minnesota’s Iron Range. The program is a partnership between the Arrowhead University Consortium, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Iron Range Higher Education Committee, Iron Range Resources, Northeast Higher Education District and Minnesota Center for Manufacturing and Engineering Excellence. The program, which dovetails off Itasca Community College’s highly-successful two-year engineering program, is headquartered at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College.
Northeast Higher Education District President Sue Collins and Minnesota State University, Mankato President Richard Davenport, formalized the partnership at a signing ceremony.
Richard Davenport, Minnesota State University, Mankato (left), Sue Collins, Northeast Higher Education District President (right).
Engineering students enrolled in the program will during their third and fourth years of studies receive hands-on training at private engineering, mining, vendors and energy generation companies across the Mesabi Iron Range.
The program is the first initiative of the Iron Range Higher Education Committee, created by the 2008 Legislature to advise the commissioner of Iron Range Resources on providing higher education programs in the Iron Range Resources service area. Iron Range Higher Education Committee programs are funded by a 5 cent-per-ton allocation from the Taconite Production Tax.
“Our agency has recognized that workforce is the key to economic growth,” said Iron Range Resources Commissioner Sandy Layman at the signing ceremony. “This is the start. You are going to be hearing more about higher education programs across the Iron Range as a result of the Iron Range Higher Education Committee.”