Missoula community discusses changes to College of Technology mission

Faculty, students and community members told state education leaders they are hopeful about the future of the University of Montana College of Technology as it expands its academic mission and rebrands its image. Still, most warned the changes will not happen easily.

By Jonathon Ambarian for the Montana Kaimin

Full Story: http://www.montanakaimin.com/news/community-discusses-changes-to-cot-mission-1.2647656#.TpglbrLiGq0

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Re-branding the UM College of Technology

University of Montana College of Technology Dean Barry Good says the images of students hammering away in a shop does not accurately reflect where the College of Technology is today, or where they are headed.

by Robin O’Day (KPAX News)

Full Story and Video: http://www.kpax.com/news/re-branding-the-um-college-of-technology/

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Higher ed officials discuss rebranding, updating Montana colleges of technology

The jobs that baby boomers are leaving behind are increasingly requiring those who fill them to have a college education, and Montana’s technical colleges need to fill the gap.

So said those presenting a vision to "rebrand" and even rename Montana’s five colleges of technology within the next two years.

For more information about the College!NOW initiative, visit http://www.collegenowmontana.com or find the initiative on Facebook.

By JAMIE KELLY of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_d545e6ba-f60b-11e0-bc6e-001cc4c002e0.html

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Vocational tech grads buck the jobs trend

"I don’t really like the second shift," Nick Senniti, 20, says. "But you’ve got to start somewhere."

Despite the worst job market in decades, Senniti had three job offers right out of high school.

CBS News correspondent Elaine Quijano reports Senniti graduated in 2009 as a certified welder from a Career and Technical Education high school — or what used to be called vocational education. He now works for Air Products in Allentown, Pa.

John McGlade, president and CEO of Air Products, says 4,000 of his 7,500 U.S. employees are skilled workers. His global company designs and builds high-tech hydrogen equipment and devices.

McGlade is "worried" he won’t be able to find skilled workers in the future. He hires about 550 U.S. workers a year. Three-hundred-and-sixty are technically skilled positions that require two years of college or advanced certification. These positions can often go unfilled for 12 months.

"You need people who are electronics experts, instrument technicians, mechanics," McGlade said.

This year funding for vocational education was cut by $140 million and President Obama is proposing a 20 percent cut next year.

By Elaine Quijano

Full Story and Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/12/eveningnews/main20119521.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea

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Some say "skills gap" lends to US joblessness

With the national unemployment rate still stuck at 9.1 percent, you might think that any employer who is actually hiring would have no trouble finding recruits.

CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports that some are blaming a "skills gap" for leaving many good jobs unfilled.

Last year, Paul Raucher’s company – EMT International, maker of high-tech digital printing presses – hired more than 100 people. Raucher said that anyone who professes a belied that domestic manufacturing is dead doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

However, as his Green Bay-based business continues to expand, Raucher is finding it harder and harder to fill the jobs.

"In order for us to grow, we have to have a steady influx of qualified people and there is a very small candidate pool out there," Raucher said.

By Cynthia Bowers

Full Story and Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/09/eveningnews/main20117889.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea