Tri-County Receives $206,936 from Appalachian Regional Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/5/99

PENDLETON --- Tri-County Technical College has received $206,936 from the Appalachian Regional Commission to fund three projects that will equip new laboratories for computer technology, mold design and the College's upcoming medical assisting diploma program.

The College will match the award for each project with local funds for a total of more than $412,000.

The Industrial and Engineering Technology Division will use $86,152 of the ARC money to enhance its motors lab and to implement a mold design lab. "This will expand our capabilities and enable us to give students a wide range of experiences in terms of motors and generators and how to understand the standard working characteristics of motors," said Dr. Jim Wood, who leads the Industrial and Engineering Technology Division.

The mold design lab will provide students in the machine tool technology department with training that is valuable to companies that produce plastic and diecast parts and to companies that design and use these parts in their product lines, he said.

Students will learn how to design molds used in the plastics industry. The classroom material will be related to machining operations that create molds for the plastics industry.

"These labs will help us to give the students the skills demanded by industry and will acquaint them with the types of equipment they will encounter on the job," said Dr. Wood.

Students in the Electronics Engineering, General Engineering and Industrial Engineering technologies will use new electromechanical equipment that is current with the modern workplace.

The Business and Human Services Division will use funds to equip a new networking laboratory for the computer technology department. Included in the new equipment will be 25 computers to be used for training in networking groups, network servers, and computer set-up/teardown. The latest networking and software and certification materials also will be purchased for the lab.

This is the first ever ARC award to the College's Health Education Division. The $56,954 will equip a new medical assisting laboratory with equipment used to train medical assistants. The program, set to begin in the fall of 2000, will provide instruction for those who work in the reception area of the office, in addition to those who provide clinical assistance to physicians.

Equipment will enable students to learn procedures such as laboratory tests, minor surgery and the administration of medication.
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