Board Facilitates Partnership for Two New Free Online Courses

The Board of Regents for Higher Education, which governs the four state universities, 12 community colleges, and Charter Oak State College — collectively known as the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (ConnSCU) — has facilitated a partnership with Central Connecticut State University’s Institute of Technology and Business Development (ITBD) and Charter Oak State College to create, implement, and host two online courses. These two non-credit, fully online courses — Introduction to Manufacturing and Introduction to Natural Gas Distribution — will be offered free of charge to any interested participant and available to the public beginning June 1, 2013. The online, self-paced, non-instructor led non-credit courses provide an overview of the subject matter in a concise, interactive learning environment which allows the student to take the courses at his or her pace.

Participants will learn about the four Manufacturing Centers located at Asnuntuck, Housatonic, Quinebaug and Naugatuck Valley Community Colleges; pre-manufacturing programs; and energy-related programs across the 17 ConnSCU institutions. The courses will provide an overview of subject matter in a concise interactive learning environment. The Introduction to Manufacturing course will provide a basic overview of manufacturing that includes different types of manufacturing, blueprint reading and processes. The course will also provide insight into materials used in manufacturing and the types of careers offered in the industry. The Introduction to Natural Gas Distribution course will provide a basic industry overview that includes exploration and drilling, types of products, transmission equipment and pipelines, storage, distribution, and the types of careers available.

“Helping to facilitate a partnership like this between two ConnSCU institutions is a win-win situation — faculty have a chance to collaborate on programs and issues in which they are passionate and knowledgeable, and students are able to learn more about cutting edge technology and career pathways, as well as the programs our schools offer in a free, online, self-paced format,” said Gail Coppage, Director of Innovation and Outreach at the Board of Regents. “It is our hope that these two new non-credit courses will help support recruitment efforts at the four Advanced Manufacturing Centers located at Asnuntuck, Housatonic, Naugatuck Valley and Quinebaug Valley Community Colleges. We thank the Governor and the General Assembly for their continued support of these programs, and Central Connecticut State University and Charter Oak State College for their willingness to partner on this exciting opportunity.”

“Central Connecticut State University’s Institute of Technology and Business Development and the faculty of our School of Engineering and Technology under the leadership of Dr. Paul Resetarits, did a terrific job in translating the core competencies in each content area and transitioning them from traditional instruction models to an online format,” said Rick Mullins, CCSU Special Assistant to the President. “The outstanding collaboration between the Board of Regents and member institutions made these programs come together timely and smoothly.”

“Our goal in designing the two online courses was to develop learning experiences that introduce the fields of manufacturing and natural gas distribution to a wide audience and generate interest in these fields as exciting career options,” said Dan Facchinetti, Instructional Designer at Charter Oak State College. “The partnership between Charter Oak State College, the Board of Regents, and Central Connecticut State University came together well and these courses have the potential to show people the possibilities of careers in fields that many may not have known much about before.”

The partnership is also supported by the Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) and CT Dream It Do It, a national initiative to support advanced manufacturing.