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Show may 2, 1972 signpost page 5 tech ed program enters new era at weber state by dorothy montalbano " Another phase being born out of the technical education program is the engineering graphic department. It's parent is in- . structor, Brent Wallis. The primary purpose of the program now being taught, according to Mr. Wallis, is to provide necessary technical training to enter a variety of design drafting occupations. ; The various headings in the state of Utah where jobs are available are: electromechanical, tool design civil and architectural drafting. Also available are service courses for trade-technical and engineering technology students. . Presently, in the classroom, we are conducting a number of courses that will provide skills, that, will allow an individual to step into a variety of grades of graphic positions, Mr. Wallis said. These range from four or five courses to a two year associate science degree. Mr. Wallis pointed out that stress is put on the number of courses completed, rather than hours completed. In order to give this program more meaning, we are providing cooperative work experience with a number of firms in the intermountain area, he said. Many of our students, between their first and second year of schooling are provided with summer drafting jobs and despite the number of declining jobs in the area, Mr. Wallis said, our students have had excellent success with employment. Mr. Wallis' personal opinion was that students on campus have the most modern facility and sophisticated equipment in the intermountain area, to learn their trade. He continued by saying that students start at basic entry skills and through their experience here in two years were able to work with computerated graphs. v . 4 U yA r4i'i J V ?v y tin rA- ' l X X l ' ! j vf , f J, ft te -OA4! , - A INDIAN EMPHASIS WEEK - Last week's Indian Emphasis Week at Weber State College was highlighted by authentic Indian dances performed in front of the Student Union Building by Tom James, Ray Slim and Richard Lane (I to r). (Photo by Rosanne Ricks) Defined briefly, the computerated graph as explained by Mr. Wallis, is the process by which, rather than draw materials with pencils, students put coded information into the computer which in turn drives a mechanical drawing machine. Only a few institutions in the nation have this capability, and the majority utilize the plotter for research purposes rather than student training, Mr. Wallis said, adding, it is considered highly unique. The. program offered here, allows a student after two years to enter the industry they have been working toward, or seek further training in the engineering-technology program. It is a career portunity, he said, ladder op-we call it, Total Career Ladder Mobility." Mr. Wallis elaborated further on the meaning of this phrase. Primarily oriented to where a student may come in, at whatever level, as a foundation, we build a training program on the technical skills in educational background that will allow him to enter the drafting occupation of his choice, he said. Career ladder mobility allows the individual to enter and leave at whatever point he would like to, Mr. Wallis continued. Employment at the present time in the field of engineering graphics is considered poor, especially so in the local area, because it is a part of the national unemployment slump, he commented. The role of design draftsman is-essential in our modern production economy, and therefore, as in the past, qualified people to fill the positions have not been available, according to Mr. Wallis. Our past figures show that we have postions that go unfilled due to the number of qulified people lacking. As the economy builds up, the need for these people is essential, he concluded. r fJj", .... ... . ' v I fiw ' 4iTir. v rr J ' F V I I .Ly'.'r 1 - -1 l - 1 -r i -m j R DISCUSSING CONSTRUCTION President William P. Miller discusses campus construction during his administration with Dale Browning of the Institutional Council, and Dr. W. Cloward of the faculty (I to r). (Photo by John Shupe) The Junior Class PRESENTS I rfj "f I. " v - ... I J r x i iv? Tip i. . l JUST FASHIONED LOVE SONG" THE JUNIOR PROM MAY 6 $3.00 couple featuring "The Sound Column" |