What's Happening at Ranken Technical College

"Rebuilding Day" Annual Community Service Event

Alumni and students are invited to participate in the national Rebuilding Day sponsored by St. Louis' Rebuilding Together organization. This day of giving back to the community by repairing, rebuilding and upgrading homes of the elderly, handicapped and low income in the St. Louis area will be held on Saturday, May 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Groups all over the country will be joining together to help others on this national day of service. This is the 3rd year for Ranken's involvement in this event and is a fun day supporting a good cause. Only a helping attitude, 25 workers and a house captain are required. Personal tools are a plus! Join us as we assist a homeowner near the Ranken campus and continue support of our neighbors.

Pictures of previous Rebuilding Days can be found at our Flickr Page.

Contact Kathy Fern, (314) 286-4895 or email ktfern@ranken.edu with your interest or questions.

Time To Nominate Distinguished Alumni!

It is time again for annual nominations for the Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni Award to be presented at Ranken's May 12 graduation celebration at the Chaifetz Arena. These awards honor Ranken graduates who have excelled in their career and given back to their community. The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2012. 

The criteria, nomination form and additional information can be found at  http://www.ranken.edu/alumni/honoring-our-alumni under Awards. Any questions can be answered by contacting Kathy Fern, (314) 286-4895 in the alumni office.

Recipients will receive a commemorative plaque and name inscribed on a perpetual plaque. 

Past recipients are Distinguished Alumni Earl Walker (2010) and Tom Wood (2011) and Distinguished Young Alumni are Andy Raines (2010) and Jeff Scott (2011).

Ranken Partners With CVCC to Offer BSAM Program

 
 
Ranken Technical College, in partnership with Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) and The Babock & Wilcox Company (B&W) recently announced that together they will provide a Bachelor of Science degree program for Virginia’s Region 2000 (an interwoven network of organizations within the 2,000 square miles that surround Lynchburg, Va.)

The idea of a partnership was first developed when B&W approached CVCC about the need for a local bachelor’s degree program based on technical studies.

"There are very few four-year colleges that accept credit for technical education," said Stan Shoun, Ranken’s president. "There was a void there for technicians to be able to further their education and move into supervisory roles. We wanted to help fill that void."

Students can now build on their technical aptitude and existing college and/or work experience by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management (BSAM) through Ranken. The BSAM program’s curriculum, which was developed with input from B&W includes project management, global business strategy, risk management, marketing, employment law and small business management. Courses will mainly be taught online but Ranken will also be sending instructors to Virginia to teach some of the courses.

"This is truly a 2+2 program* designed for business and industry employees," said Shoun. "Students may be awarded college credit toward the BSAM degree for industrial training and certificates, apprenticeship programs and other job-based learning."

By partnering with Ranken to offer bachelor’s-level courses online, CVCC is able to offer students an accessible degree that has been expressly designed to meet the needs of Region 2000 employers.

"We are very pleased to be partnering with CVCC and Ranken to help develop future leaders for our company and our fellow Region 2000 businesses," said Peyton S. Baker, President of Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. "Education and an overall learning culture is an important part of B&W’s ability to stay competitive in the current and future marketplace. B&W has an abundance of highly skilled technical employees who are part of our Lynchburg-area operations, and the 2+2 Program will offer those interested in earning a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management a quality education that features a flexible class schedule and is relevant to B&W’s business."

To kick off the program, Shoun and John Wood, Ranken’s vice president for student success will be making a trip to Virginia to participate in an informational session on August 11. Classes are set to begin on August 22. This semester two classes will be offered, each being an eight-week session. Students have the opportunity to earn up to six credit hours per semester.

Per George Sherman, director of workforce development at CVCC, they are expecting about 15 to 20 students to enroll in the program this fall, the majority of them B&W employees, though numbers are not yet finalized.

"We are really excited about this new partnership and see great potential for expansion," continued Shoun. "We are doing what we do best; providing superior education in the technical arena; now we are doing it from three states away." 

*Refers to "years of study" in a program. Used primarily by community colleges when describing a transfer program in which the first two years are completed at the community college (usually an associate degree) and the individual then transfers to a four- year college to finish the program (usually a bachelors degree).

 

 

Ranken Partners with Virginia Community College and Nuclear Company

Employees at Babcock and Wilcox, located in Virginia will now have the opportunity to get their Bachelor’s degree through Ranken Technical College without ever leaving the state. The company recently partnered with Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) and Ranken to create a program in which students take their technical courses and general education courses at CVCC then can complete the business and management courses for their Bachelor of Science degree through Ranken. Courses will mainly be taught online but Ranken will also be sending instructors to Virginia to teach some of the courses.

It is expected that employees who begin the Bachelor of Science in Applied Management (BSAM) through Ranken will have completed an Associate degree through CVCC or are very close to obtaining one. Their past on-the-job training will also be evaluated and may be used as credit toward the program. Students should be able to complete the program in two to three years.

"All of the parties involved saw this as a great opportunity," said Stan Shoun, Ranken’s president. "Babcock and Wilcox were really interested in our BSAM program in order to further the education of their skilled technical workers and to give them supervisory skills."

The new satellite BSAM program with Babcock and Wilcox is being piloted at their Lynchburg, Virginia site but plans include expanding it in January to the other five sites which are located around the world. The hope is to also eventually offer the program to all students at CVCC.

Shoun and John Wood, Ranken’s vice president for student success will be making a trip to Virginia to kick off the program with an open house on August 11 and classes are set to begin on August 22. This semester two classes will be offered, each being an eight-week session. Students have the opportunity to earn up to six credit hours per semester.

"We are really excited about this new partnership and see great potential for expansion," continued Shoun. "We are doing what we do best; providing superior education in the technical arena; now we are doing it from three states away."

Ranken Programs Offering Summer Courses!

The following programs are offering day school summer courses for ambitious students who would like to get a jump-start on their career! Classes begin June 6, 2011.

    -Automotive Maintenance Technology

    - Information Technology

    - High Performance Racing Technology

    - Industrial Technology

 

The following programs are offering evening school summer courses for working adults who want to complete their education even faster! Classes begin the week of May 16, 2011.

    - Automotive Maintenance Technology

    - Electrical Maintenance Technology

    - Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology

    -Pipefitting Technology

    - Welding and Fabrication Technology

If you would like more information or would like to register for classes for one of these programs, contact our Admissions office at (314) 286-4809.

Ranken Hosts Mike Garz, World Trade Center Architect, along with AIA

AIA St. Louis May Chapter Meeting:      Thursday,   May 20, 2010

World Trade Center Update

 

This month we welcome Michael Garz, AIA member and project architect with the World Trade Center Development Corporation, New York, NY. Mike will provide an update on the site as well as his insights into the progress, or lack there of, at the site.

          

Date               Thursday, May 20, 2010

Time:              5:30 pm reception/6:30 -7:30 pm program, Mary Ann Lee Technology Center Atrium

Location:        Ranken Technical College (NW corner of Page and Newstead, parking in lot across the street)

Credits:         One hour, HSW for AIA members

RSVP:            member@aia-stlouis.org

Sponsor:      Beck/Allen Cabinetry   www.beckallencabinetry.com

 

All students, staff, and alumni welcome to attend.

Ranken Community Service Project

Ranken is joining another not for profit organization, Rebuilding Together, in a day of community service.  Help rebuild and repair homes of the less fortunate and elderly in the St. Louis area.  Join these groups on May 1, 2010, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as they help others live better in the community.  All volunteers, no matter what skill level, are welcome.  Bring your tools if you have them. A t-shirt and lunch will be provided. Contact the Alumni Relations Office to join. 

Ranken is Going Green!

Ranken is dedicated to training students with the most up-to-date technology and equipment. “Green” technology is the wave of the future and Ranken is providing students with the necessary skills to stay on the edge of this new revolution in sustainable energy. Click here to read more about our latest courses in green and solar technology - starting in January 2010!

Writing Effective Memos, Letters and Reports.

The Continuing Education Department is offering a two-night seminar on September 10 & 17, 2009, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Writing Effective Memos, Letters and Reports. The cost of the seminar is $60.

Topics to be covered include:
•    Choosing the best format for the message you want to communicate
•    Writing to inform versus writing to persuade
•    Eliminating the clutter and getting to your point
•    Communicating a negative message
•    Conveying a professional image through writing

If you or anyone you know could benefit from this opportunity, please download an application and return it to Ranken Technical College.

About the Instructor

Course Instructor Shertina Gillespie is a professional communicator, with a strong background in teaching effective writing skills to business people. She is not only a technical writer herself, but has also trained various audiences in communications and the usage of various software applications.  She has a Master of Arts in Multimedia Communications from Webster University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Missouri St. Louis.

Ranken to offer Hybrid Technology Seminar

Due to industry demand, Ranken Technical College has created its first-ever hybrid technology seminar. This two-day course is designed for automotive technicians, service associates, roadside service personnel, instructors and others who are interested in being prepared for the most current automotive technology. Course content is as follows:

Day One: Introduction to Hybrid Vehicles

• Hybrid technology
• Identifying hybrid vehicles
• Current and future hybrid vehicles
• Introduction to Belt Alternator Starter (BAS) and GM 2 mode systems

Day Two: Alternative Fuels

• Hybrid drive train
• Transaxle system
• Electric motors
• Various hybrid models
• Hybrid accessory systems (braking, steering, air conditioning, etc.)

This is a certificate-based course, and all participants will receive a certificate of completion for hybrid technologies.

Classes will be held on Monday, July 13 and Wednesday, July 15 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. The course fee is $300, which includes all the necessary printed materials.

Enroll today: contact the admissions office at (314) 286-3638 or admissions@ranken.edu.

If you have any specific questions about the course content, contact John Shoffner at (314) 286-4843.

The enrollment deadline for this seminar is Monday, June 29, 2009.