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Higher ed, business-industry officials praise new engineering, manufacturing center

The stars are lined up for Mankato because of the recently approved Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence, the state’s higher education director told exuberant business and education officials Nov. 9.

2006-04-09

"The stars are lined up for Mankato" because of the recently approved Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence, the state's higher education director told exuberant business and education officials Wednesday night.

"Talented Minnesota students need a reason to stay in Minnesota," Office of Higher Education Director Susan Heegard said at a celebration for the new Center. The initiative will provide that reason, she added, and will attract engineering students "from around the world."

Officials from Minnesota State University, Mankato and six partner community and technical colleges, as well as representatives of area business and industry, gathered in the Centennial Student Union ballroom to laud the Center's recent approval.

The Center, led by Minnesota State Mankato's College of Science & Engineering Technology, will bring the college partners together with area manufacturers and K-12 schools to develop new programs that encourage students to pursue engineering and technical occupations. It also will help ensure that graduating engineers and technicians are steeped in cutting-edge, "best-practice" skills and knowledge demanded by Minnesota manufacturers.

It is one of four centers of excellence that will share $10 million allocated last spring by the Minnesota Legislature. Over the next two years the MNCEME will receive several million dollars - up to $3.3 million from the legislative appropriation, and additional funds from private donations and grants.

Colleges partnering with Minnesota State Mankato are Alexandria Technical College, Anoka Technical College, Hennepin Technical College in Eden Prairie, Normandale Community College in Bloomington, South Central College in Faribault and North Mankato, and the Northeast Higher Education District in International Falls, Ely, Virginia, Hibbing, Eveleth, Grand Rapids and Itasca.

State Rep. Bob Gunther, who was instrumental in passing the legislation, said the project "has great potential. I'm very excited about the future of this collaboration."

Robert Hoffman, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, said the Center includes "some of the richest engineering and manufacturing talent in the system."

MnSCU Chancellor James M. McCormick added that "the outstanding engineering school (at Minnesota State Mankato) is the basis for this," but it "could not have been accomplished without the power of all of you - the great technical and community colleges."

McCormick also thanked Gov. Tim Pawlenty for promoting the concept, and praised the work of more than two dozen business and industry advisors, "who really know what is needed."

Industry Advisory Board representatives also lauded the new initiative.

Their enthusiasm was summed up by Jonathan Zierdt of the Greater Mankato Economic Development Corporation, who called the initiative the most promising collaboration between education and industry that he's seen.

Minnesota State Mankato President Richard Davenport expects the new Center to become "the renowned national model for stimulating strong partnerships between higher education and industry. It will be the destination program for the Midwest," he said.

The Center's goals include:

• Develop engineers and technicians with skills to support advanced manufacturing milestones in the next decade;
• Increase the number of technically educated graduates and certified employees - especially women and minorities;
• Improve the capacity of industry partners to meet critical needs through customized training, advanced technologies and greater use of advanced engineering processes;
• Increase the use of engineering and manufacturing education best practices for a rapidly changing competitive environment;
• Help Minnesota industries compete globally and become national economic leaders;
• Develop a national reputation for promising, innovative manufacturing processes and practices, and for use of renewable and recyclable resources;
• Provide human resources and college/university equipment to foster applied research projects that allow students, faculty and industry to promote advanced technologies.

Industry Advisory Board members include Charles Arnold of the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association, James C. Bernstein of the 2020 Institute Design team/ATC Professional Services, Kirk Bustrom of Itasca Technology Exchange, Jean Bye of the Dotson Company, Inc., Mark Erickson of the Minnesota Manufacturing Coalition, Dan Falbo of the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Jim Giertz of Donaldson Co., Inc., Mike Gramse of MRG Tool & Die, Melanie Houston of SAS Education Practice, Lorin Krueger of Winland Electronics, Tim LaFleur of Rockwell Automation, Doug Laven and Denny Siemer of V-Tek Inc., Sandra Layman of the Iron Range Resources Agency, Mark Milliron of the SAS Institute, Rick Olson of The Toro Company, Harlan Palm of Tow Trailers, Inc., Kevin Powell of Werner Electric Supply, Jon Rippke of Bolton & Menk, Inc., Sam Roy of EPS Technologies, Inc., George Sehi of Sinclair Community College, Maureen Steinwall of Steinwall Manufacturing, Inc., Larry Taylor of Taylor Corporation, Scott Thiss of Sailforth, Inc., and Jonathan Zierdt of the Greater Mankato Economic Development Corporation.

Other centers at Metropolitan State, Winona State and Bemidji State Universities will focus on information security, health care and manufacturing. A fact sheet about the centers can be found at http://www.mnscu.edu/media/newsreleases/2005/pdf/centers_of_excellence.pdf

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