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WDT student awarded American Welding Society Scholarship

Shellie Clyde of Rapid City, a student in WDT's Welding program, has received a $300 American Welding Society NW Section Scholarship.

The American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation is dedicated to advancing educational opportunities to students preparing for a career in the welding and related joining technologies. Each year, the AWS NW section provides scholarship opportunities to assist students with their education.

Western Dakota Tech is the only technical institute that serves the western South Dakota region. WDT offers more than 20 programs in a variety of fields, including Business and Computers, Construction Trades, Health Services, Legal and Public Services, Manufacturing and Mechanical Trades, and Science and Technology. More than 96 percent of WDT's most recent graduates are working, continuing their education, or serving in the military, and 90 percent remain in South Dakota.

WDT faculty, staff, and administration focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, WDT students graduate ready to make real and immediate contributions to their employers and their communities.

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

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WDT creates transfer agreement with University of Sioux Falls

Western Dakota Tech graduates can now enter the University of Sioux Falls to finish their bachelor's degrees under a new agreement between the two schools.

WDT grads can transfer up to 64 credits to USF and apply them towards an accelerated Degree Completion Program (DCP) major in Accounting, Management or Entrepreneurial Studies. Students can complete their DCP bachelor's degrees in Sioux Falls or online. They may also choose from USF's 35 traditional, undergraduate majors.

"WDT students want options," campus President Mark Wilson said. "While the majority of our students go directly into careers related to their education, some want to pursue additional degrees. Agreements like this give students more opportunities to create the futures and lives they want."

LuAnn Grossman, the director of USF's accelerated Degree Completion Program (DCP), agrees.

"Our goal at USF is to help Western Dakota Tech grads finish their bachelor's degrees through a seamless transfer to USF," Grossman said.

"DCP, for example, was specifically created for adults who want to complete their bachelor's degrees while still working, raising families or pursuing other interests," Grossman said. "DCP makes it possible for them to do this by taking classes just one evening a week or online for less than two years."

WDT's programs are focused on preparing students for the workforce. WDT faculty, staff and administration focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships and industry partnerships, WDT students graduate ready to make a real and immediate contribution to their employers and to their communities. More than 96 percent of WDT's most recent graduates are working, continuing their education or serving in the military, and 90 percent remain in South Dakota.

For information about the agreement and WDT, call (800) 544-8765 or (605) 718-2565 or send an email to admissions@wdt.edu. Visit WDT on the web at www.wdt.edu.

USF offers a private, Christian liberal arts education to students from all walks of life. The University offers more than 35 undergraduate majors, 9 pre-professional programs, DCP and graduate programs in business and education. For information about USF, visit www.usiouxfalls.edu or call (605) 331-5000.

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WDT is closed Friday, January 11

Due to the weather, WDT is closed Friday, January 11.

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WDT to begin programs in HVAC and Plumbing

Western Dakota Tech is addressing the needs of the workforce by starting new diploma programs in HVAC Technology and Plumbing Technology.

WDT is now accepting applications for the nine-month programs. Classes will begin in the fall 2013 semester that begins in August.

"Skilled employees are needed in these fields," WDT President Mark Wilson said. "These programs will give students the skills they need to be successful in careers that are in-demand."

Both programs have been designed with industry input so the courses will provide the skills students need.

Graduates of the HVAC Technology program will be able to:

  • Design residential and light commercial central heating and air conditioning systems

  • Install, troubleshoot, and repair residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning equipment

  • Design, fabricate and install forced air and hot water distribution systems

  • Install a wide range of oil and gas boilers and forced-air furnaces

  • Design, fabricate, and install home and light commercial ventilation systems, including both exhaust and fresh air make-up exchangers


Students also will prepare for and take the universal HVAC certification exam so they are qualified to handle all types of refrigerant.

Graduates of the Plumbing Technology program will have skills in:

  • Piping techniques and procedures

  • Plumbing and piping systems

  • Residential and commercial system installations

  • Blueprint reading and isometric interpretation


Employment trends in both career fields show that jobs are available now and will be in the future as the need for trained technicians grows.

Employment of HVAC mechanics and installers is expected to grow 34 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growing number of sophisticated climate-control systems is also expected to increase demand for qualified HVAC technicians.

The median annual wage of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers was $42,530 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,490, and the top 10 percent earned more than $66,930.

Employment of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is projected to grow 26 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for plumbers is expected to come from new building construction and stricter water efficiency standards for plumbing systems, such as low-flow toilets and showerheads.

The median annual wage of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $46,660 in May 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,580, and the top 10 percent earned more than $79,920.

Western Dakota Tech is the only technical institute that serves the western South Dakota region. WDT offers more than 20 programs in a variety of fields, including Business and Computers, Construction Trades, Health Services, Legal and Public Services, Manufacturing and Mechanical Trades, and Science and Technology. More than 96 percent of WDT's most recent graduates are working, continuing their education, or serving in the military, and 90 percent remain in South Dakota.

WDT faculty, staff, and administration focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, WDT students graduate ready to make real and immediate contributions to their employers and their communities.

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

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ACCUPLACER will help more students succeed

A new diagnostic tool being used at WDT will better identify the academic skills of students and help them improve faster and more efficiently. WDT recently adopted ACCUPLACER as the test future students take to determine their placement in math and English classes. The test replaces the COMPASS, which had been used for more than 10 years. Future students will take ACCUPLACER during the Admissions process. The adaptive, untimed assessment in the areas of reading comprehension, sentence skills, arithmetic, and elementary algebra provide a detailed analysis of each student's academic strengths and weaknesses. WDT uses the test results to determine what math and English classes best fits each student. It also will determine what, if any, remediation students need so they can be successful. "ACCUPLACER is a great tool," said Brad Henrich, Registrar. "It will give us more detail about where students should be placed and what additional help they may need." Approximately one-third of all college students in the United States require some type of remediation. Of that one-third, half do not graduate from college. WDT hopes to reverse that trend by using ACCUPLACER's MyFoundationsLab to provide students who need remediation more customized help than WDT ever could before. Based on performance on the initial ACCUPLACER test, MyFoundationsLab generates a personalized learning path for each student. This easy-to-use learning system offers targeted, just-in-time remediation mapped to the ACCUPLACER diagnostic results. MyFoundationsLab provides the academic skill development students need to be successful. MyFoundationsLab offers multiple benefits: • Individualized learning paths offer proven tutorials, instruction, and practice with instant feedback. • It is ideal for learners of various levels and ages. • Students work at their own pace on any computer with an Internet connection. • It is available 24/7. • Detailed reporting tools allow students and institutions to easily monitor progress. WDT's Student Success Center will work with students using MyFoundationsLab. Monitoring their progress, Center staff will help students stay on track and provide tutoring and other assistance as students need it. "Accuplacer's diagnostic capabilities will help WDT students remediate in the areas of reading comprehension, writing and math areas either prior to full-time enrollment or as a co-requisite to the math and writing courses required," said Mary Ann Slanina, Academic Services coordinator. WDT also will use ACCUPLACER to assess the academic needs of dual-enrollment students who are taking high school and WDT courses. Dual enrollment students will take the assessment during the WDT Admissions process and again when they are finished with WDT courses to determine how their skills have changed over time. However WDT uses ACCUPLACER, it will provide students with the tools they need to improve their skills and increase their chances of academic success. "We are looking forward to using this instrument," Henrich said. "We are confident it will help more students reach their educational and career goals." Western Dakota Tech is the only technical institute that serves the western South Dakota region. WDT offers more than 20 programs in a variety of fields, including Business and Computers, Construction Trades, Health Services, Legal and Public Services, Manufacturing and Mechanical Trades, and Science and Technology. More than 96 percent of WDT's most recent graduates are working, continuing their education, or serving in the military, and 90 percent remain in South Dakota. WDT faculty, staff, and administration focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, WDT students graduate ready to make real and immediate contributions to their employers and their communities. For information about WDT, call (800) 544-8765 or (605) 718-2565 or send an email to admissions@wdt.edu. Visit WDT on the web at www.wdt.edu.

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Western Dakota Technical College prepares students to be highly-skilled professionals through accessible, career-focused programs to improve their lives, while adapting to community workforce needs and positively impacting our economy.

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