Published: Tuesday, August 7, 2012 1:07 AM CDT

Yankton’s Regional Technical Education Center (RTEC) recently announced that it will expand its partnership with Black Hills State University (BHSU) this fall with increased certificate programs being offered.

The certificate programs were designed with input from local industries in South Dakota and manufacturers in order to give students advanced skills in targeted areas of industry. The new offerings can be completed separately or taken as part of the two-year Associate of Science in Advanced Manufacturing degree, which has been offered at RTEC for the past several years.

Steve Wynia, an assistant professor at BHSU, helped put the programs together for the RTEC offerings, said schools working in collaboration helps everyone from students to instructors.

“Schools working together have the benefits of shared resources and the ability to offer courses and programs that are not currently at their own respective schools, so it makes good economic sense,” he told the Press & Dakotan. “It also gives students the ability to pursue educational options that would not be available in their area without these cooperative arrangements.”

Wynia added that partnerships like the one between RTEC and BHSU are “win-win” situations for both students and schools.

Most of the new course offerings will be taught face-to-face at RTEC.

“There are a few classes that will be delivered via the DDN live interaction television system from the new University Center in Rapid City, which is where the Industrial Technology programs is based out of,” Wynia said. “All courses at BHSU and RTEC are taught by professionally experienced and academically qualified staff and BHSU only offers technical courses in Yankton.”

Because only technical courses are offered in Yankton from BHSU, Wynia added that students would need to take their general education course requirements either online, at the University of South Dakota or Mount Marty College. He noted that response for the courses has been positive, but won’t know anything on enrollment numbers for another few weeks and the relationship between RTEC and BHSU is one that is evolving.

“We are certainly willing to explore all options where BHSU can help RTEC and all the industries in the region,” Wynia said.

RTEC General Manager Josh Svatos could not be reached for comment on Monday.

BHSU’s four new certificates include:

• The Advanced Computer Aided Manufacturing Certificate which:

— Addresses the ongoing need to train current and future workers for today’s highly computer integrated industrial manufacturing environment

— Integrates several computer software systems and machines and teaches students about manufacturing operational procedures, manufacturing design principles, machine safety/safeguarding along with proper manual industrial machine use and care

— Consists of courses in Manufacturing Technology, CAD Mechanical Drafting, Machining Processes and Computer Aided Manufacturing

• The Mechanical Computer Aided Drafting Certificate that:

— Addresses the demand for highly qualified computer aided draftspersons

— Focuses on teaching introductory through advanced three-dimensional, multi-component design and virtual assembly processes along with rapid prototyping three-dimensional modeling

— Consists of courses in Computer Aided Drafting I, CAD Mechanical Drafting I, Computer Aided Drafting II and CAD Mechanical Drafting II

• The Industrial Leadership and Management Certificate which:

— Focuses on the demand for highly qualified leadership personnel

— Equips students with the knowledge of the overall operations of an industry and teaches them how to work effectively with personnel in leadership and management areas

— Features courses in Industrial Management, Management and Leadership, Human Resource Management and Negotiations & Conflict/Dispute Resolution

• The Lean Concepts and Management Certificate that:

— Is designed for all levels of employees from upper management to production floor personnel

— Expands on what is sometimes referred to as Lean tools to include long-term Lean management and the leadership required to transition the culture of the entire workforce into a functioning Lean enterprise

— Includes courses in Safety Management, Leadership & Management, Lean Concepts and Lean Management