Clarkson offering engineering classes at local chamber

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July 6, 2008

By DAN HEATH The Press Republican Sun Jul 06, 2008, 12:00 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH -- Clarkson University will offer two classes at the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce this year.

Chamber of Commerce Vice President for Economic Development Susan Matton said the courses are a way for people to pursue an engineering degree without leaving the Plattsburgh area.

"Clarkson has a world-class reputation, especially for engineering," she said. "We hope to build on that partnership in the future."

MANUFACTURING

The first course is materials and manufacturing processes, which covers the microstructure of metals and their alloys, plastics, equilibrium diagrams, heat treatment and mechanical testing and engineering properties as the correlate with selected foundry and other manufacturing processes.

The class meets once a week from 1 to 4 p.m. from July 9 to Aug. 6. The class costs $450, which includes textbooks.

Upon completion, each successful participant will receive a certificate from Clarkson's Coulter School of Engineering/Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Department.

Many of the people who have already signed up are being sent by their employers, with the company paying their way. They are expected to acquire skills they can use in their jobs and accelerate their advancement.

"It's nice to see companies invest in their employees," Matton said.

WORKFORCE SHORTAGE

Matton said there is a shortage of people with the level of science and math skills needed for technical fields such as engineering, yet jobs in those fields offer excellent pay.

"These jobs are available anywhere in the world, but we hope they stay here."

The Clarkson classes are part of the chamber's Aerospace and Transportation Equipment Strategic Plan, developed last fall. Matton said those industry sectors rely even more heavily on a workforce educated in math and science.

The chamber obtained a $500,000 grant from the New York State Department of Labor to implement the first phase of that plan, which includes the Clarkson classes.

Other parts include restarting an electrical engineering program at Clinton Community College; the start of Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute; new supply-chain-management programs and a logistics forum at Plattsburgh State; and new out-of-region workforce recruitment initiatives.

The second course, mechanical and aerospace engineering, will be offered this fall, Matton said.

"We hope we can build on these courses and help local people start work on their degree in engineering without having to travel to Clarkson or enrolling in Albany or Rochester. They can pursue a degree while living at home."

dheath@pressrepublican.com