August 20, 2020 Melissa Lamar

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Tunxis Community College in Farmington is accepting applications for its advanced manufacturing technology programs.

Students can start courses August 26 for associate degrees and certificates in machine technology and electro-mechanical maintenance programs, with full- and part-time options, and day and evening classes.

Developed in response to Connecticut manufacturers’ needs for a highly-skilled workforce, there are many projected job openings for new skilled CT workers over the next decade.

A Tunxis advanced manufacturing student is shown this summer finishing up some of the hands-on components for his Metrology class.

“We are happy to have our manufacturing students back on campus,” said Mary Bidwell, dean of manufacturing at Tunxis and Asnuntuck Community Colleges. “Even now, in our current circumstances, our graduates are steadily being hired. We have also heard from our manufacturing partners that many retirements are on the horizon, and they need employees trained to fill these positions.”

In addition to classes at Tunxis, which will be a mix of on-ground and online formats, students receive hands-on time during the programs at Asnuntuck Community College’s 27,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center in Enfield while Tunxis facility renovations for advanced manufacturing continue.

Financial aid, payment plans and veterans’ benefits are available to those who qualify. Both programs also offer paid internships, apprenticeships and job placement services.

For more information on Tunxis advanced manufacturing programs, visit tunxis.edu/make-it, or email [email protected]. For more on how to apply to Tunxis, visit tunxis.edu/apply.

Offered through the CT College of Technology (COT), Tunxis students enrolled in the advanced manufacturing technology programs can apply college credits earned to four-year degrees in manufacturing-related career technologies at other private and public universities in Connecticut. The COT is a collaboration among Connecticut’s community colleges and partner universities to provide seamless career pathways for students to earn certificates, associate of science and bachelor of science degrees in engineering and technology disciplines, as well as preparing students for the workforce.

Tunxis successfully filed its Phase 3 reopening plans with the Department of Public Health recently. These plans incorporate a range of measures to protect students and employees on campus, including required face masks, a virtual sign-in process that provides contact tracing, and enhanced cleaning routines and sanitizing throughout the day according to CDC guidelines. The plan also includes occupancy limits, moving of furniture and signage to encourage social distancing, and installation of plexiglass shields. The college will remain closed to the general public until further notice.

Tunxis Community College offers more than 70 associate degrees and certificates, including 28 associate degrees with manufacturing, science, engineering and technology emphases. The college recently purchased a 44,000 square-foot building adjacent to Tunxis for the college’s new Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. Renovations to 10,000 square feet of the building will begin soon, with an anticipated opening in 2021.