One program. Two instructors. Seventy-five years of mixed service. Some may name it a diamond jubilee.
No matter it’s referred to as, the service rendered by Ron Hutain and Jody Chrisman to the automation know-how program at Arkansas Tech College-Ozark Campus has contributed to altering the face of business within the Arkansas River Valley and helped college students put together for repeatedly evolving workforce wants.
Hutain started his profession at ATU-Ozark (then referred to as Arkansas Valley Vocational Technical Faculty) in 1984. He was the primary director for the automation know-how program at ATU-Ozark and he’s the final remaining teacher employed by Alvin F. Vest, namesake of the coed union at ATU-Ozark Campus and the primary director for Arkansas Valley Vocational Technical Faculty when it opened in 1965.
“Educating is at all times a problem…by no means boring,” mentioned Hutain, who left a profitable client electronics small enterprise to hitch the college 39 years in the past. “I take pleasure in studying additionally and being at Arkansas Tech-Ozark offers me that chance. I take pleasure in seeing college students succeed. I take pleasure in seeing the transformation college students bear from believing it’s not possible to be taught, to gaining the arrogance essential to finish a challenge.”
Chrisman started his educating profession in 1987 and has labored with Hutain in growing, implementing and evolving the ATU-Ozark automation know-how program over the previous 36 years.
“There have been many profitable college students,” mentioned Chrisman. “I attribute their success strictly to their onerous work. I used to be merely doing my job.”
The job carried out by Chrisman and Hutain has offered a profession pathway for ATU-Ozark automation know-how alumni resembling Dan Yandell, who graduated on the high of his class and went on to work as an electronics and community technician for Hiram Walker in Fort Smith earlier than starting his personal enterprise; and Jimmy Rofkahr, who started his profession with Tyson Meals as a technician earlier than later turning into a plant supervisor.
“Hutain’s and Chrisman’s legacy is one in every of generosity, endurance and genuineness,” mentioned Tim Drain, alumnus of the ATU-Ozark automation know-how program and enterprise improvement supervisor for Wave Rural Join. “I’m so grateful for my expertise at Arkansas Tech-Ozark. The small campus ambiance offered a cushty and private expertise whereas nonetheless providing the entire advantages of a bigger college. The college and employees have been at all times supportive and accessible, and I felt like I used to be a part of a group that basically cared about my success. I used to be capable of acquire hands-on expertise in my discipline of examine, and the talents and data I gained helped me to excel in my profession. I might advocate the automation know-how program to anybody searching for a high quality training in a supportive setting.”
The ATU-Ozark automation know-how program offers for a examine of parts, circuits, devices and management strategies used with industrial automated methods. College students develop talent units that allow the combination of electronics, mechanics, pneumatics, hydraulics and laptop controls.
The main focus of the examine is in two predominant areas. The primary is management strategies for industrial parts, resembling electrical motors, variable-speed drives, programmable logic controllers, servomechanisms and sensors. The second is the pc system space of focus that covers how you can restore, improve or community an entire laptop system.
Profession alternatives for ATU-Ozark automation know-how graduates embrace mobile phone know-how, networking, robotics, broadcasting, plant upkeep, nuclear and different power fields, in addition to the pc discipline and training.
“Know-how is eternally evolving,” mentioned Hutain. “One of many largest modifications is from the usage of particular person digital elements to replaceable parts of a modular design. One other change I’ve noticed in my educating profession is in the kind of pupil enrolled. With the transition from a vocational college to a college, the scholars now have the chance for superior levels. Subsequently, our program is engaging to a bigger portion of the coed inhabitants.”
Go to www.atu.edu/ozark/levels/associates/automation-technology.php to be taught extra concerning the ATU-Ozark automation know-how program.