CAMPUS REPORT
HELENA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
DATE: November 9, 2001
TO: Board of Regents
FROM: Rick Gray, Interim Dean/CEO, Helena College of Technology
RE: Campus Report for the Nov 15-16, 2001 Board of Regents' Meeting
- Students are involved in several Service Learning Projects. The Computer Technology Capstone course students are designing computer network systems for Helena Industries, Helena Food Share, and Wakina Sky all of which are non-profit organizations serving the people of Helena. Students from the PC Configuration class are performing maintenance work on computer systems in the community. In Web Applications, students are developing a Helena Community Calendar. The Construction Technology students are finishing the foundation work for the new grandstands for the Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds. This was precision type concrete work that the students performed above standard. Each of these courses have course supplements with reflection and feedback on the students' experiences. The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center is helping the class with Project Management programs.
- The Cisco course instructors are teaming with the English instructors to design a writing improvement project model for writing and editing technical project reports.The process is a modification of the Threaded Case Study from the Cisco curriculum to include the English component. The students are challenged with preparing a plan for a corporate networking design to include narrative as well as technical documentation. Both English and Computer Technology faculty will do assessment of the projects collaboratively.
- The Fire and Rescue program will be delivered to the Missoula community in cooperation with the Missoula Fire Department and Rural Fire Council. The students will take courses jointly through The University of Montana-Missoula College of Technology and HCT. This is a collaborative effort between the agencies and the colleges to provide employees and volunteers opportunities for progressive professional development.
- On October 30, HCT hosted the annual Advisory Committee Meeting. This event offers an opportunity for program faculty/staff and advisory committee members to discuss issues of mutual concern, including program curriculum, retention, graduate success, and training equipment. HCT received valuable input from the Advisory Committees, which are composed of employers, industry employees, graduates and proprietors.
- DT Architecture, the firm chosen to design the new building plans, has begun an intensive Master Facility Planning process with the HCT campus-wide population. Plans are to have a preliminary report to the faculty and staff by January. The design recommendations for a new classroom facility will result from this process.