Posts for August 2015

WDT receives funds to boost important programs

August 27, 2015

Western Dakota Tech will receive a portion of more than $4 million in Future Funds awarded to the state's four technical institutes by Gov. Dennis Daugaard. The funds will be used to purchase equipment and boost important programs in high-demand workforce areas.

"We want students to be fully prepared for the workforce they will enter after graduation," Gov. Daugaard said. "That requires the most current and effective training on the most advanced equipment possible. These grants will help our state's technical institutes keep pace with industry demands."

WDT will receive $895,247 for equipment that will benefit the following programs: HVAC/R, Law Enforcement, Medical Lab Tech, Nursing, Paramedic, Phlebotomy, Welding and Fabrication, Professional Truck Driving, and more.

"These funds will assist us in providing high-quality programs that give students the skills they need to be successful," WDT President Ann Bolman said. "Ninety-eight percent of our graduates are employed six months after graduation, filling in-demand positions at the local, state, and national levels."

For information about WDT, call (800) 544-8765 or (605) 718-2565 or send an email to admissions@wdt.edu.

Read More

State Board of Education approves new WDT programs

August 25, 2015

The South Dakota Board of Education approved three new programs for Western Dakota Tech on Monday, August 24, 2015. The programs are Cybersecurity, Dental Assistant, and Medical Laboratory Technician.

Labor market information indicates that demand for workers in these fields is strong in South Dakota and nationally. WDT strives to offer programs with exceptional job outlooks to benefit students and the community. WDT will offer the programs beginning in 2016.

Cybersecurity students will complete classes in network security, network defense and countermeasures, information security, databases, computer forensics, and more. The industry is currently experiencing unprecedented growth due to the dramatic increase of computing and communications technologies across the globe. Through 2022, the number of Information Security Analysts will grow by 25 percent in South Dakota and 37 percent nationally.

Dental Assistant students will complete classes in basic radiography, pre- and post-operative patient care and instruction, chairside assisting, taking tooth and mouth impressions, supervised practice, equipment maintenance and sterilization, medical record-keeping, general office duties, reception and patient intake, and scheduling. Through 2022, the number of dental assisting positions will grow by 12.7 percent in South Dakota and 25 percent nationally.

Medical Laboratory Technician students will complete classes in general laboratory procedures and skills; laboratory mathematics; medical computer applications; interpersonal and communications skills; and the basic principles of hematology, medical microbiology, immunohematology, immunology, clinical chemistry, and urinalysis. Through 2022, the number of Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians will grow by 17.6 percent in South Dakota and 30 percent nationally.

"WDT is excited to add these three options because the need for skilled workers in these fields is so great," WDT President Ann Bolman said. "Students will graduate from these programs with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors they need to be successful."

For information about the new WDT programs, call (800) 544-8765 or (605) 718-2565 or send an email to admissions@wdt.edu

Read More

WDT holds orientation for full-ride scholarship students

August 13, 2015

The inaugural group of WDT Build Dakota scholars will attend an orientation to learn about campus and their full-ride scholarships that will pay all tuition and other expenses while preparing students for high-need careers in South Dakota.

The orientation will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Thursday, August 13, on the WDT campus. WDT invites the media to attend.

WDT awarded 89 full-ride scholarships for the 2014-2015 year. These scholarships will pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies, tools, uniforms, laptop computers, and other educational expenses.

"We are so proud to host this special group of students," WDT President Ann Bolman said. "These scholarships will help these students prepare for in-demand careers in South Dakota while not taking on student loan debt. This is great news for them and for South Dakota."

The event will introduce students to resources available on campus and online. Students will attend speaker sessions, tour campus, pick up schedules, and have questions answered before classes begin August 24.

Between 2014 and 2018, $50 million dollars will be invested through private donations from T. Denny Sanford and the South Dakota Future Fund to create and operate the Build Dakota Scholarship program.

Scholarships will be awarded to students entering high-need workforce programs at South Dakota's technical institutes to fill the state's technical careers with skilled professionals. Recipients of the full-ride scholarships will commit to living and working in the state, in their field of study, for three years following graduation.

WDT awarded every available scholarship for this year. Applications will be available once again in November 2015 for the 2016-2017 year.

Learn more about Build Dakota Scholarships at http://www.wdt.edu/build-dakota/

Read More

---