Blinn Launches New AAS Degrees in Carpentry, Facility Maintenance, HVAC and Water Purification All four degrees provide graduates with greater earning power
With four new associate degrees that launched this Fall, the Blinn College District is offering more than an entryway into the skilled trades – it offers students a pathway to high-demand management positions. Blinn is offering new Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in carpentry, facility maintenance, HVAC, and water purification. All four degree plans are 60 credit hours and are approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Students also can earn occupational skills awards and Level 1 and 2 certificates, either as standalone awards for entry into the workforce or en route to their AAS degree.
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These new associate degree programs will go a tremendous way toward filling a significant employment gap in our region. As we work to build an even better Brazos Valley, we’re privileged to support the Blinn College District’s efforts to train our workforce and provide people with versatility in seeking career paths. Matt Prochaska President/CEO of the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation
“Students who earn these AAS degrees will be in high demand when they enter the workforce because employers will know that they have received industry-leading training on state-ofthe-art equipment,” said Jay Anderson, Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences, Technical Education, and Community Programs. “Just as importantly, their skills and education will place them on the fast track to leadership roles in the industry.” Each award plan uses National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curricula, providing graduates with nationally recognized credentials. Blinn selected and developed each degree in partnership with local industry. Each AAS degree leads to a high-wage, highdemand career identified on the Workforce Solutions Targeted Occupations List. “As long as I lived in the Brazos Valley, there has always been an underserved need for skilled trades training and development. As our community continues to grow, the need for workforce training becomes ever more paramount,” said Hunter Goodwin, Chairman of the RELLIS External Advisory Committee and President and COO of Oldham Goodwin Group. “I’m thrilled to see Blinn’s commitment to serving this regional and statewide demand through their new programs in carpentry, facility maintenance, HVAC, and water purification.” Courses in all four degrees are offered at the new RELLIS Agriculture and Workforce Education Complex located at the RELLIS Campus in Bryan.
These four new degrees mark the first in a series of skilled trades AAS degrees at Blinn. Pending approval from the THECB and SACSCOC, Blinn plans to introduce AAS degrees in construction management, power line worker, and surveying in Spring 2021. New degrees in construction safety, electrical, and industrial mechanics and maintenance are scheduled to debut in Fall 2021. 12 | BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT 2020 | www.blinn.edu
