Newberry County Mechatronics Technology Advisory Board Created

As Piedmont Technical College prepares to add the Mechatronics Technology associate degree at the Newberry County Campus in the fall, the program is seeking guidance from area businesses that will benefit from the training the graduates will receive.

 “The advisory board is intended to help guide and advise us in the type of equipment and training we need to provide to make sure our program is meeting the needs of employers in our region,” said Kevin Moore, Mechatronics Technology coordinator.

The new degree program will begin in the fall of 2014 as part of the Phase II construction at the new Newberry County Campus. Members of the advisory board include businesses such as Kraft, Komatsu and Georgia Pacific as well as representatives from the Newberry County Career Center and Newberry County Economic Development.

The degree program beginning in the fall will tie into the Mechatronics program currently offered at the Newberry Career Center. Students who begin at the Career Center will be able to seamlessly enter the program at the Newberry County Campus to pursue the full associate degree.

“We want to let the students know they can go to the Career Center for a year, then come over to Piedmont Tech after you graduate for a year and earn an associate degree,” Moore said. “We are laying the groundwork in the high schools of Newberry for this degree.”

Once construction is complete and classes begin, Moore said he hopes to have even more input from the advisory board.

“They’re enthusiastic now, but they will be more excited when they see something more than just plans,” said Moore. “This is their opportunity to help mold the program to meet their needs.”

In addition to the advisory board, Piedmont Tech will host a Workforce Opportunity Summit March 5 to gain input from the area businesses that will benefit from the program.

“The summit will be round-table discussions on how Piedmont Tech can meet the needs of industry,” said Moore.

For more information on the Mechatronics Technology program or for more information on the advisory board, contact Moore at (864) 941-8480 or moore.k@ptc.edu. For information on the workforce summit, contact Jennifer Wilbanks at (864) 941-8303.