Launch Magazine Winter 2020

Launch A Washtenaw Community College Publication | Winter 2020

Real Genius

Meet Rosie Van Alsburg, U-M College of Engineering Computer Science and Engineering Physics major and WCC transfer student.

page 4

Program Spotlights page 15

Inside 6 | INNOVATOR FINDS INSPIRATION AT WCC CEO credits a lifelong passion for learning and classes he took at Washtenaw Community College as keys to his success.

8 | STEM GEM WCC’s STEM Scholars program shows why the college is the STEM Gem of the state 10 | S ECOND CAREERS A father and son bond over welding at WCC.

Publisher . . . . . . . Rose B. Bellanca, Ed.D.

President, Washtenaw Community College

Executive Editor . . . . . . . . Brendan Prebo

Associate VP Communications

Graphic Designer . . . . . Mandy McCarthy Web Designer . . . . . . . . Sonya McDowell Production Assistance . . Angela Law-Hill Launch is written and designed by the WCC Marketing and Communications Department, Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-4800.

Questions about the WCC programs and services described in this publication should be directed to the Student Connection Center at 734-973-3543. Comments or questions about the publication itself can be directed to the WCC Marketing and Communications Department at 734-973-3704.

All rights reserved. No part of the material printed may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system without the permission of the publisher.

Please note, every effort is made to remove individuals or businesses that have requested, in writing, to be deleted from Washtenaw Community College’s mailing lists and/or database. WCC obtains mailing lists/data from many sources and cannot guarantee you will be eliminated from every mailing.

WCCNET.EDU

WCC Board of Trustees Christina Fleming, Chair William G. Milliken Jr., Vice Chair

Welcome to Launch At Washtenaw Community College, we’re here for you, wherever your life takes you – whenever it takes you there. Take WCC alumni Marc Fecker for example. Marc was a top student in high school planning to study engineering at one of the top engineering schools in the county – Michigan Technological University.

After just one year, Marc realized that he wasn’t interested in studying engineering, but he knew he wasn’t finished learning. After coming back to Ann Arbor and taking classes at WCC, Marc literally found his voice. Today, he is a successful public speaker, entrepreneur and innovator.

In this issue, we also profile Rosie Van Alsburg, a WCC transfer student now studying Computer Science and Engineering Physics at the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. She is also minoring in Space Science and Engineering and is the president of the Michigan Chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space. As a U-M instructor teaching Introduction to Computer Science, Van Alsburg is an inspiration to her students for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers.

The New Year is right around the corner and there’s much to look forward to in 2020. Use this time over the holidays to make a resolution to renew your commitment to your education and start planning your future at WCC today. We look forward to seeing you on campus in January.

With warm regards,

David DeVarti, Secretary Angela Davis, Treasurer Ruth A. Hatcher Richard J. Landau, Ph.D., J.D. Diana McKnight-Morton Rose B. Bellanca, Ed.D. WCC President

Winter Semester Begins January 13, 2020 Follow Us /WashtenawCC @WashtenawCC @WashtenawCC 2 | Launch Winter 2020

Rose B. Bellanca, Ed.D. President, Washtenaw Community College

LAUNCH WINTER 2020

In This Issue 4 6 8 10 12 15

Real Genius Meet Rosie Van Alsburg, U-M College of Engineering Computer Science and Engineering Physics major and WCC transfer student.

Innovator Finds Inspiration at WCC CEO credits a lifelong passion for learning, a hunger for technology and innovation, and classes he took at Washtenaw Community College as keys to his success.

STEM Gem WCC’s STEM Scholars program shows why the college is the STEM Gem of the state.

Second Careers Veteran paramedic and volunteer firefighter, Wayne Dotson, and his son Andrew, a certified firefighter with the Springport Fire Department, are bonding at WCC over welding.

Welcome to WCC Advisors help students access all the services WCC has to offer.

Program Spotlights 15..... Pre-Engineering 17...... 3D Animation Arts 19..... Radiography 21..... Mechatronics

14...... 2020 Programs 23..... Student Success Guarantee

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If you were remaking the 1985 indie-teen comedy Real Genius starring Val Kilmer, you might want to consider Rosie Van Alsburg of Ann Arbor for the lead role. Like Kilmer’s character in the movie, Van Alsburg is a senior at a prestigious engineering college with a job lined up after graduation and is working on a government funded-project to advance humankind’s knowledge and discovery of space.

Rosie Van Alsburg is majoring in Computer Science and Engineering Physics at the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan.

She is also minoring in Space Sciences and Engineering, where she is learning to engineer systems for outer space missions.

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A

s the president of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) chapter at the University of Michigan, Van Alsburg and her team are working on two projects awarded by NASA through the Artemis program that aims to put a person back on the moon by 2024.

“I’ve always been interested in aerospace and flight,” said Van Alsburg, a Computer Science and Engineering Physics major and instructional aide at U-M’s College of Engineering. “When I was a kid, I told my mom that I wanted to be a flight attendant, and she asked me, ‘Why not be the pilot?’”

That might have been the first time that Van Alsburg saw herself in the role of the captain, but it was not the last. Star Trek: Voyager, the fifth series in the Star Trek franchise, was another big influence on Van Alsburg’s aspirations.

Washtenaw Community College after graduating with an associate degree in General Studies: Math and Science in 2017.

more one-on-one instruction from the instructors,” she said. “You also get to learn from professional faculty members instead of from graduate students.”

Regarding her transition from WCC to U-M, Van Alsburg says it was difficult switching schools.

“WCC also gives students a great sense of community,” she said. “At a large school like U of M you have to search for your own community, but at WCC it’s just there.”

“It was hard for me to find my place at U-M at first,” she said. “But with more than 1,000 student groups, it’s easy to adjust once you find your community.”

Two things that Van Alsburg most appreciated about her time at WCC was the small class sizes and diversity of the student body.

“I was lucky to be able to take my math and science classes at WCC, where smaller class sizes mean you get

“Voyager had both a female captain and a female chief engineer,” said Van Alsburg. “That helped me realize that leading a team was something that I could do.”

Van Alsburg counts SEDS and members of Zeta Omega Eta, where she chairs the Health and Wellness committee, as part of her community.

Van Alsburg has lined up a job at Duo-Security as a software engineer when she graduates in May 2020.

I was lucky to be able to take my math and science classes at WCC where smaller class sizes mean you get more one-onone instruction from the instructors.

Seeing strong female role models in the STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] fields shaped who she wanted to become and reinforced the importance of being a role model.

“I try to be a good role model to all my students, but especially for my female students, to help them succeed,” she said.

You also get to learn from professional faculty members instead of from graduate students.

In addition to teaching an introductory computer science course at U-M, Van Alsburg is also a Student Transfer Leader, helping transfer students at the College of Engineering find college resources and opportunities like student clubs and activities.

It is a role she can appreciate firsthand having transferred to U-M from

#1 IN TRANSFERS TO U-M

More students transfer to the University of Michigan from Washtenaw Community College than from any other college in the country.

TOP 5 COLLEGES SENDING STUDENTS TO U-M

Washtenaw Community College

201 Students

Michigan State University

University of Michigan-Dearborn

141

Students

137 Students

Schoolcraft College:

103 Students

Oakland Community College:

90 Students

Source: 2017–2018 transfers by college from MI School Data

5

INNOVATOR FINDS

Inspiration AT

WCC

Marc Fecker is the CEO and co-founder of Robo Retail, a full-service digital agency that supports small- to medium-size retailers and provides strategic consulting for large companies like Hertz, Chase Bank, and recreational vehicle maker BRP, which manufactures Ski-Doo, Evinrude and Cam-Am among other brands.

He credits a lifelong passion for learning, a hunger for technology and innovation, and classes he took at Washtenaw Community College as keys to his success.

After high school, Fecker enrolled at Michigan Technological University in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to study mechanical engineering. After a year living in what he describes as the “polar vortex,” he was ready to try something new.

“As I started to get into it, I realized that mechanical engineering wasn’t as interesting to me as I thought it was going to be, so I dropped out of Michigan Tech,” said Fecker. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew there were things that I still wanted to learn.”

That is when he started taking classes at WCC. “Among the classes I took at WCC were HTML programming and speech classes,” he said. “I really didn’t like public speaking at all. I was shy and nervous in front of an audience, and I still get nervous before speaking today. But the foundational tools that WCC gave me really made a big difference.

“When I think back to my WCC experiences, those were the most important classes I took,” he continued. “It really changed my perspective and approach to public speaking.”

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One of the benefits of a community college like Washtenaw is that you have more opportunity to discover what you’re passionate about.

At a traditional four-year college, you’re on their path as soon as you enter the program.

As long as you stay on that path, you’ll be fine.

But if you want to deviate from that path, try something else, or explore a different area, you find that there’s very little flexibility. At WCC, you can create your own program of study, and you will develop the skills and knowledge you need to do the things you want to do.

Marc Fecker, CEO and Co-Founder of Robo Retail in Ann Arbor

Today, he is a paid speaker and has completed more than 40 engagements, including one at the IBM Watson Conference that he describes as, ”a TED Talk on steroids.”

Confidence in public speaking was not the only thing he got from his speech courses at WCC. He also received the confidence to go out and pursue his dreams.

“The instructor in my first speech class was a mentor to me,” he said. “She helped me figure out what was important and helped me make some early life decisions.”

ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN GENERAL STUDIES WCC’s Associate Degree in General Studies is designed for students that want to earn an associate degree by creating a personalized program. Working with an academic advisor, students must take a minimum of 60 credits and can include coursework from all areas of the college.

Go to WCCNET.EDU/PROGRAMS for more information about the Associate Degree in General Studies.

One of those choices was joining CorTech Computers, a start-up computer company in New Jersey.

“It was something that I was really interested in doing and very passionate about, but I was scared to take the plunge,” he said.

After leaving CorTech, Fecker joined Ciber, Inc. as an IT Business Consultant and later joined Ford Motor Company. At Ford, Fecker served as the Vice President of Innovation and created the company’s FordDirect Innovation Lab. “We hired hundreds of people when I was at Ford,” said Fecker.

“There are two schools that consistently sent us graduates that are equipped to contribute right away – the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit and WCC.” “My advice to WCC students is to be proud of going there,” he continued. “What you’re learning at WCC is immediately applicable to what you need to know in the ‘real world’ to succeed at your professional career.”

“The students that go to WCC are around people that can help them achieve what they want to accomplish in life, and that is what is unique and special about WCC,” he concluded.

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STEM GEM

WCC’s STEM Scholars program shows why the college is the STEM Gem of the state.

W

ashtenaw Community College has always enjoyed a reputation as the go-to college for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses for transfer and guest students.

Smaller classes sizes, more one-on-one interaction with instructors, and learning from highly qualified professionals with a passion for teaching are all reasons students come to WCC. Now in its second year, the STEM Scholars program is strengthening WCC’s case as the college for students interested in STEM-related careers.

“The STEM Scholars program is dedicated to helping students in the STEM majors maintain their (academic) focus, work together with other students, and prosper in their careers,” said Mary Joan Ngao, a STEM Scholar student from Belleville.

Funded through grants from the National Science Foundation, the STEM Scholars program is a collaboration between WCC and four universities –

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Michigan, Michigan State, Wayne State, and Western Michigan. The grants provide program funding as well as scholarships for underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged students.

“The STEM Scholars program is dedicated to helping students in the STEM majors maintain their (academic) focus, work together with other students, and prosper in their careers.”

“Financially the STEM Scholars program has supported me a lot,” said Pablo Garcia of Ann Arbor. “Through the WCC STEM Scholars program I received two scholarships, which are helping me get an education now and save money for college later.”

The STEM Scholars program starts with a three-week intensive summer program where students learn social skills, financial literacy and study strategies; and have an opportunity to explore careers, visit major university campuses and build friendships.

“It’s like a summer camp where we got to know all of the other STEM Scholars,” said Katie (Katherine) Liddell of Ann Arbor.

“That was a great team building exercise and really helps you gain a support system going into the semester.”

Another unique aspect of the program is the way students rely on each other and support each other socially and academically.

“Students within the program trust each other and go to each other for help,” said Dr. Susan Dentel, the college coordinator for the STEM Scholars program and WCC Life Sciences faculty member. “It is really a beautiful community of students helping each other.”

“ Through the WCC STEM Scholars program I received two scholarships, which are helping me get an education now and save money for college later.”

• Learn about STEM/STEAM career options and opportunities.

• Engage in fun and interesting hands-on activities that convey what it is like to work in a collaborative and creative environment.

WEEK

FEBRUARY 3–7, 2020

• Attend interesting talks and demonstrations given by experts from academia and industry.

For more information, please visit WCCNET.EDU/STEAM.

“Anytime I have a question, I’ll send it into the (STEM Scholars) group chat, or I’ll visit one of my instructors during office hours,” said Liddell. “WCC really gives you all the tools you need to succeed.”

According to Dentel, one of the goals of the program was to grow it beyond the two original grants. To do that, the College added SuperSTEAM Saturdays for middle school students and will be hosting a STEAM Week event for students and the community.

SuperSTEAM Saturdays, which provides hands-on STEM plus arts programing, is already a success and completely filled for the year. STEAM week, now in its second year, will feature interactive workshops, career presentations, documentaries, campus tours of labs and more.

The WCC STEM Scholars program is open to current college students, incoming high school graduates, and dual-enrolled Washtenaw Technical Middle College students. The next application deadline is Feb 10, 2020.

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Veteran paramedic and volunteer firefighter, Wayne Dotson, and his son Andrew, a certified firefighter with the Springport Fire Department, are bonding at WCC over welding.

The Dotsons sit side-by-side every Tuesday morning in Welding Print Reading class working toward associate degrees in Welding Technology.

He talks about working together to find the right angles for a blueprint. “It helps a lot having someone I’m confident and trusting with these things,” he says.

For Wayne Dotson, welding is an opportunity for a second career after retirement and for Andrew it’s a chance to gain skills to compliment his new firefighting career.

Welding and Fabrication department chair Glenn Kay II teaches the class the Dotsons are taking together. He says he sees them interacting more as peers in the classroom than father and son.

“It’s been really fun having my son in school with me,” says Wayne Dotson.

“Just watching him grow — becoming an adult — is something that I’m really happy I get to do. I’m glad I get to see him growing as a man.”

“It very much seems like they’re friends sharing their fondness of welding and what they can create together,” says Kay. “It’s an incredible journey for both and I couldn’t think of a better way to pursue a career than to pursue it with a friend. I hope one day to share an experience like that with my son or daughter.”

Andrew Dotson says, “it’s been a great experience to be in class with my dad.”

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Though they’re tackling the program together, the Dotsons are enrolled for different reasons.

Wayne Dotson has been a paramedic and volunteer firefighter for more than a quarter century. In 2017, he started contemplating a career change to something a little less stressful and physically demanding.

Upon graduation, Wayne Dotson’s ideal job would be as a pipeline welder, so he can spend his days traveling around the country, working outdoors and listening to the steady hum of an electrical arc.

“I find welding very peaceful and calming. The sound of the electricity is soothing,” Wayne Dotson says. “Plus, when you’re out on a medical call, you never know what’s going to happen. With welding, you can predict what’s going to happen.”

Andrew Dotson was always the type of kid that didn’t like to sit still, which explains how he became a certified firefighter with the Springport Fire Department even before he graduated from Springport High School in June of 2018.

Now a paid on-call firefighter with the department, he was dual-enrolled at WCC during his senior year of high school and is beyond the halfway point of his degree program.

He’s taking classes while working full time and following in his father’s footsteps by taking medical first responder training.

“For me, the welding degree is more of a fallback plan or a future side job,” says Andrew Dotson.

“Sometimes because of the way firefighters are scheduled, you have extra time to work on the side.”

Whether it’s a future full-time career or a side job, both Dotsons have proven they have a propensity for welding.

“It’s been really fun having my son in school with me. Just watching him grow — becoming an adult — is something that I’m really happy I get to do. I’m glad I get to see him growing as a man.”

TOP PAYING JOBS IN WELDING Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution:

$70,400

Utility System Construction:

$62,550

Motor Vehicle Manufacturing:

$60,870

Rail Transportation:

$51,000

Ship and Boat Building:

$49,480

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Welcome to WCC W

ashtenaw Community College is more than just an educational institution. It’s is a place where students learn, grow and experience everyday life.

The college has many services on campus to help students make an academic plan, stay on track, play a sport, enjoy an activity, get involved and even get through this thing we call “life.”

The best way to access many of those services is through the college’s advisors and counselors.

“Every new student should meet with an advisor,” said college student advisor Caleb Boswell. “We’re here to help students understand and navigate WCC.” Boswell says that prospective students can save themselves potential headaches if they meet with an advisor first.

“Advisors can help students determine what courses they need and the best way to complete their degree,” he said. “It’s not unusual for me to meet with a student who has selected one program when they applied and may be working toward a degree in another program.”

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Caleb Boswell talks to a student at WCC’s Transfer Fair on Oct. 2

“Meeting with an advisor once a semester can help students stay on track,” he continued. “We can help make sure students are taking the classes they need, and not the ones they don’t.”

Advisors can also help students connect to campus resources.

Boswell says that many students will make an appointment to talk to an advisor about their academic progress, but what they really want to talk about are issues outside of the classroom.

“I can often tell through body language that a student isn’t telling me everything they want me to know,” said Boswell.

“They might be having issues getting to class, affording tuition or books, childcare, or even getting enough to eat. Those are all things we can help students with through the Student Resource Center.”

Students may also not be aware that the college provide free, personalized support and personal counseling through Licensed Professional Counselors.

“Many people in the advising office have counseling backgrounds,” said Boswell. “We are able to triage when a

student is having issues or is in crisis.

Sometimes a student just needs help making an appointment with a counselor, and sometimes we need to get them into a personal counselor’s office immediately.

It just depends on the situation.”

WCC ADVISING AND COUNSELING

Appointments to see a WCC advisor an be made by phone at 734-677-5102 or in-person at the WCC Advising and Counseling office on the second floor of the Student Center Building. Questions can also be sent to advisors on the web at WCCNET.EDU/ONLINE-ADVISING

OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Thursday: 8:00am to 7:00pm Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm Saturday: 9:00am to 1:00pm (at Student Connection)

Register for the Winter semester today!

WINTER CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 13, 2020 Choose from on-campus, off-campus and online classes.

1: Complete your application at WCCNET.EDU/APPLY. 2 : Register through your MyWCC student account.

Helpful staff at the Student Connection can answer your questions!

Student Center building, second floor • 734-973-3543 Monday–Thursday 8:00am–7:00pm; Friday 8:00am–5:00pm; Saturday 9:00am–1:00pm

Want this feeling?

The amount of hands-on experience our students get at WCC is amazing.

They are more than ready when they transfer or enter the workforce.”

- Valerie Greaves, Dean of Health Sciences

“Our students are getting the hands-on experience that they need to work in this exciting industry.”

- Michael Galea, WCC Faculty Business & Computer Technologies

Learn more at: WCCNET.EDU SOURCES: 1 Burning Glass 2 Bureau of Labor Statistics

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WCC has programs you want!

With more than 130 different programs of study, it’s easy to get trained for a career you can start right away, get an associate degree and transfer to a four-year college, or study for an advanced or post-associate certificate to further your career.

Here’s an idea of what you can study at WCC. Go to wccnet.edu/programs to find the full list and learn more.

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES AND BUSINESS

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

BUSINESS:

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES:

Accounting* Administrative Assistant* Business* Business Office Administration* Computer Software Applications* Entrepreneurship and Innovation Retail and Business Operations* Sales and Marketing Supply Chain Operations*

COMPUTER:

Applied Data Science Computer Science Cybersecurity* Information Systems Linux/Unix Systems Mobile Device Programming Networking* Programming: Java or C++* Systems and Networking

DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS:

3-D Animation Digital Strategy Digital Video Production Graphic Design Photographic Imaging and Technology Web Design and Development*

MANAGEMENT:

Baking and Pastry Construction Culinary General Studies* Human Resources Management* Retail* Supply Chain*

Addiction Studies* Human Services Liberal Arts*

EDUCATION:

Early Childhood Elementary Education Secondary Education*

ENGLISH:

English as a Second Language Journalism Liberal Arts* Technical Communication

FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Global Studies Liberal Arts

HUMANITIES:

Broadcast Arts Film Studies Fine Arts General Studies Liberal Arts*

PERFORMING ARTS:

Audio Production and Engineering Fine and Performing Arts

SOCIAL SCIENCES: Liberal Arts*

CULINARY CAREERS CULINARY ARTS:

Baking and Pastry Skills Culinary Arts Skills General Studies

HEALTH CARE Computed Tomography (CT) Dental Assisting General Studies Health Program Preparation Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mammography Medical Billing and Coding Nursing Nursing Assistant (CNA) Nursing, LPN to RN Physical Therapist Assistant Radiography Sterile Processing Surgical Technology

MATH, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND MATH:

Environmental Science Exercise Science General Studies General Studies in Math and Science* Math and Science Pre-Engineering Science

PUBLIC SERVICE CAREERS EARLY CHILDHOOD:

Child Care Professional Early Childhood Education

CRIMINAL JUSTICE:

Criminal Justice General Studies Law Enforcement Police Academy

TRADES AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES ADVANCED MANUFACTURING:

Electronics Technology Fluid Power Engineering Technology Manufacturing Machine Tool Programming and Operations Mechatronics (Robotic/ Automated Equipment)

AUTOMOTIVE AND MOTORCYCLE TECHNOLOGY:

Auto Body and Collision Repair Automotive Service Technology Automotive Testing Custom Auto Body Fabrication/Chassis Design Motorcycle Service Powertrain Development

CONSTRUCTION:

Cabinetmaking/Millwork Construction Management Construction Technology Facilities and Energy Management Ironworkers Pre-Apprenticeship Occupational Studies* Sustainable Building Practices

HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION (HVACR): Commercial General Studies Residential

WELDING AND FABRICATION: Welding Technology

* Indicates programs that can be completed online.

These pages contain courses available at the time this publication was printed. Consult wccnet.edu/schedule for the latest class listings.

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Program Spotlight: Pre-Engineering

Start Here – Engineer Anywhere Engineers solve real-world problems by applying their scientific and creative abilities.

With more than 40 specialties like civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, nuclear, biomedical and robotic, engineering is vast, innovative and a rapidly growing field.

A pre-engineering associate degree is perfect for anyone interested in engineering, but wants to save money by going to a community college and has time to decide which area of engineering they want to study before transferring.

WHAT IS ENGINEERING? Engineering is the application of science and math to solve problems. Engineers figure out how things work and find practical uses for scientific discoveries.

Scientists and inventors often get the credit for innovations that advance the human condition, but it is engineers who are instrumental in making those innovations available to the world.

EARNING POTENTIAL Automotive Engineers NEW WORKERS

PER YEAR

EXPERIENCED

Generally start around

Normal pay is

Highly experienced workers can earn as much as

$56,655

$87,765 PER YEAR

$121,662

$129k

Without engineering, human civilization wouldn’t exist as we know it. From the Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge and the Parthenon to the automobile, space flight and the internet, engineers have shaped and built our world.

$109k $88k $70k $57k

10th

25th

50th

75th

90th

MICHIGAN NUMBERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS

44,350

JOB OPENINGS

3,510

15

Program Spotlight: Pre-Engineering, continued

“ WCC prepared me really well for my degree and career. The hardest thing for many engineering students is getting through calculus. The personal help I got at WCC prepared me for an engineering degree.”

- Mckenzie Benning, Oakland University Engineering student and GM Calibration Technician

PRE-ENGINEERING SCIENCE TRANSFER, ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE (A.S.) DEGREE Washtenaw Community College offers an associate in science degree in Pre-Engineering designed for students who intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Engineering. It allows the student to establish a strong academic foundation in mathematics and science and complete courses to fulfill general education requirements.

Program Description Pre-engineering addresses the increasing need of students pursuing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, specifically engineering. Students in this program will have their coursework pre-planned with specific courses laying the groundwork for successful transfer to a four-year engineering program.

For more information, visit WCCNET.EDU/ACADEMICS/PROGRAMS. Top Jobs in Engineering JOB

MEDIAN SALARY

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM

Petroleum Engineers

$137,170

Pre-Engineering A.S. + Transfer

Aerospace Engineers

$115,220

Pre-Engineering A.S. + Transfer

Computer Hardware Engineers

$114,600

Pre-Engineering A.S. + Transfer

Nuclear Engineers

$107,600

Pre-Engineering A.S. + Transfer

Chemical Engineers

$104,910

Pre-Engineering A.S. + Transfer

Electrical and Electronics Engineers

$99,070

Pre-Engineering A.S. + Transfer

Mechanical Engineers

$87,765

Pre-Engineering A.S. + Transfer

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Program Spotlight: 3D Animation Arts

Consider a Career That’s Growing Exponentially – Digital Animation If you are passionate about video games, animated features or shorts, visual effects or visualizations and feel just as comfortable with a mouse and keyboard as a brush and pencil, digital animation may be the field for you.

3D animators are in high demand in fields like gaming, movies and television, product design and development, advertising and even crime scene forensics.

WHAT IS 3D ANIMATION? 3D animation is the art of using motion to bring characters, vehicles, props and other items to life within TV shows, films and games.

A great example of this would be Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. Though these movies take place in a fantasy world, Groot’s body movements and facial expressions are so fluid and realistic, they cause viewers to laugh and feel sentimental.

3D artists give characters bones, skin and constraints that allow them to move in specific ways. Animators are then responsible for giving objects weight and timing that result in the object feeling like it truly exists in the world we see it.

EARNING POTENTIAL Video Game Designers NEW WORKERS

PER YEAR

EXPERIENCED

Generally start around

Normal pay is

Highly experienced workers can earn as much as

$37,360

$72,357 PER YEAR

$121,662

$122k $97k $72k $52k $37k

10th

25th

50th

75th

90th

MICHIGAN NUMBERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED VIDEO GAME DESIGNERS

11,610

JOB OPENINGS

965

17

Program Spotlight: 3D Animation Arts, continued

“ The combination of computers and technology with my passion for art was perfect. Without the experience at WCC, I would have never found a career I was completely satisfied and passionate about.�

- Jessi Ruselowski, Senior Environment Artist at ArenaNet LLC

3D ANIMATION ARTS, ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE (A.A.S.) DEGREE Washtenaw Community College offers an applied associate degree in 3D Animation Arts. Students enrolled in the 3D Animation Arts degree program choose between two program concentrations: Animation for Film and Broadcast and Animation for Game Art.

Program Description The 3D Animation Arts program prepares students for entry-level positions in digital 3D modeling and animation for use in film, video, broadcast, video game design, visualization, advertising, print and the web. Students will select a concentration in either Film and Broadcast or Game Art. They will develop ideas in the pre-production concept phase, execute them in the production phase, and polish them in the post-production phase to create finished work. Through this process, students will develop critical industry skills such as storyboarding, modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, animating, rendering, editing, sound engineering and compositing.

Ultimately, students will apply everything they have learned to create a demo reel that showcases their skills.

For more information, visit WCCNET.EDU/ACADEMICS/PROGRAMS. Top Jobs in 3D Animation JOB

MEDIAN SALARY

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM

Art directors

$85,610

3D Animation A.A.S. + Transfer

Multimedia artists and animators

$72,520

3D Animation A.A.S.

Video game designers

$72,357

3D Animation A.A.S.

Commercial and industrial designers

$66,590

3D Animation A.A.S. + Transfer

Graphic designers

$50,370

3D Animation A.A.S. + Transfer

18 | Launch Winter 2020

Program Spotlight: Radiography

Exploring the Art and Science of Radiography If working with cutting-edge equipment to produce amazing images of the human body, while working with a team of medical professionals to diagnose and treat patients sounds appealing to you, consider a career in Radiography.

Radiography is a well-paying career that is in high demand. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the annual growth rate for radiography jobs is expected to average 9 percent over the next ten years. Radiography also has many specialized career paths like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine that offer even greater earning potential.

WHAT IS RADIOGRAPHY? Radiography is the art and science of using radiation to provide images of the tissues, organs, bones, and vessels that comprise the human body. A radiography technologist produces X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and other medical images to assist clinical radiologists and other doctors diagnose, monitor or treat a patient’s injury or illness.

EARNING POTENTIAL MRI Technologists NEW WORKERS

PER YEAR

EXPERIENCED

Generally start around

Normal pay is

Highly experienced workers can earn as much as

$44,128

$63,165 PER YEAR

$80,482

$80k $73k $63k $54k $44k

10th

25th

50th

75th

90th

MICHIGAN NUMBERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TECHNOLOGISTS

1,474

JOB OPENINGS

94

19

Program Spotlight: Radiography, continued

“ There is nothing that can create images of the human body like an MRI. It’s like a high-definition camera for the human body.

You can see things nobody else can see.”

- Jason Whitmer, WCC Radiography and MRI Post-Certificate graduate

RADIOGRAPHY, ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE (A.A.S.) DEGREE Completion of the Radiography program at Washtenaw Community College not only prepares students for an entry-level career in that field, but also opens multiple doors to other specialties.

Radiography graduates may pursue training in MRI, computed tomography (CT) or mammography imaging at WCC. Pursuing a postassociate certificate can increase your professional value and marketability in the field of Medical Imaging.

Program Description The Radiography program prepares students for a career in diagnostic radiology as a radiographer. The program curriculum includes a series of courses offered in conjunction with individualized laboratory work and an extensive clinical experience in local hospitals.

Upon completion of the program, the student will receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Radiography and is eligible to take the national registry examination administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

For more information, visit WCCNET.EDU/ACADEMICS/PROGRAMS. Top Jobs in Radiography JOB

MEDIAN SALARY

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM

Radiation therapist

$82,330

Radiography A.A.S. + Advanced Certificate

Nuclear medicine technologist

$76,820

Radiography A.A.S. + Advanced Certificate

MRI technologists

$63,165

Radiography A.A.S. + Advanced Certificate

Mammography technologists

$60,263

Radiography A.A.S. + Advanced Certificate

Radiography technologists

$59,520

Radiography A.A.S.

SOURCES: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

20 | Launch Winter 2020

Program Spotlight: Mechatronics

Future-Proof Your Career with a Degree in Mechatronics In a world of constantly evolving technology, it can be difficult to find a stable career. However experienced and educated you may be, economic and technological progress can render your skills obsolete within a few years.

One path to financial success and stability is to find a career that will remain relevant despite the march of time.

If you’re worried about your future career prospects and have an interest in engineering, manufacturing or electrical design, there may be a solution.

Mechatronics is already a huge industry, and is likely to remain important to the economy for decades to come. By training in mechatronics, you can position yourself for a lucrative, long-lasting career.

WHAT IS MECHATRONICS? Mechatronics is the integration of mechanical, electrical and computerbased systems. Mechatronic engineers are needed to create most of the things we rely on every day like smartphones, computers, automobiles, wireless routers, televisions and game consoles.

Mechatronics could be used to design the product itself or the manufacturing systems that make the products we use.

EARNING POTENTIAL Electronics Engineering Technicians NEW WORKERS

PER YEAR

EXPERIENCED

Generally start around

Normal pay is

Highly experienced workers can earn as much as

$34,023

$59,993 PER YEAR

$81,595

$82k

These experts serve as a vital link between engineers and technicians.

From conception to design, development, testing and production, they are essential to the production process

$72k $60k $44k $34k

10th

25th

50th

75th

90th

MICHIGAN NUMBERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS

3,125

JOB OPENINGS

344

21

Program Spotlight: Mechatronics, continued

MECHATRONICS, ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE (A.A.S.) DEGREE Washtenaw Community College offers an applied associate degree in Mechatronics. Students who study Mechatronics at WCC choose between three program concentrations: Fluid Power, Industrial Electronics or Numerical Control.

Program Description Mechatronics prepares students for entry-level positions as an automated equipment technician who assembles, installs, programs, troubleshoots and maintains robotic and automated equipment. Students have a choice to follow any of three different specialty tracks that will prepare them for the various applications of automation. Each track features a variety of application level classes where the student performs lab-oriented practice for required skills. It is highly recommended that beginning students take at least one technical class during their first semester.

For more information, visit WCCNET.EDU/ACADEMICS/PROGRAMS. Top Jobs in Mechatronics JOB

MEDIAN SALARY

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM

Mechatronics Engineers

$88,756

Mechatronics A.A.S. + Transfer

Systems Test Engineer

$81,000

Mechatronics A.A.S. + Transfer

Instrumentation Engineer

$71,000

Mechatronics A.A.S. + Transfer

Electronics Engineering Technicians

$59,993

Mechatronics A.A.S.

Electro-Mechanical and Robotics Technicians

$57,711

Mechatronics A.A.S.

SOURCES: EMSI, U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zippia.com

22 | Launch Winter 2020

Registration Now Open for Winter and Fall!

Winter Classes Start January 13, 2020

Apply to WCC. It’s free!

Applying is free and only takes 10 to 15 minutes.

WCCNET.EDU/APPLY

Complete the items on YOUR personal checklist

We’ll call within three days of receiving your application to walk you through each item.

WCCNET.EDU/ORIENTATION

Pay for school

There are many ways to pay for school—financial aid, scholarships and payment plans. Visit WCCNET.EDU/PAY for more details.

WCC students

Get answers to your registration questions using the tools in MyWCC in the WCC GATEWAY on the WCC website.

• Check to see if you have any registration holds.

Meet with an academic advisor

WCC advisors can help you with determining your major, class selection and degree planning. Schedule an appointment with Student Services call 734-677-5102, or in-person at the Student Connection desk during regular office hours (see below).

WCCNET.EDU/ADVISING

Student Connection

Need help? Call or visit the Student Connection.

Student Center building, second floor, 734-973-3543 Monday to Thursday: 8:00am–7:00pm Friday: 8:00am–5:00pm Saturday: 9:00am–1:00pm

• Make sure you meet the prerequisites of the classes you want.

• Planning to graduate soon? Run a graduation audit to see what classes you still need to take.

See an advisor if you need help selecting classes or want to make sure you’re on the right track.

WCCNET.EDU/ADVISING

Register

WCC’s class schedule is easy to navigate. Search classes using keywords such as a subject, class name, instructor name, class number, or Course Reference Number (CRN). Other tools help you find classes by subject, location, time of day, days of the week, and type of class (in-person, online or a mix of both).

WCCNET.EDU/SCHEDULE

Important Dates: January 11: Express Registration January 13: Winter I Classes Begin February 4: Winter II Classes Begin February 10: Scholarship Priority Deadline: WCC Foundation February 18: Winter III Classes Begin March 12:

Spring/Summer and Fall Registration Begins for New Students

The Washtenaw Community College Board of Trustees voted to update and approve the college’s “Assurance of Student Success” board policy.

The policy, which serves as a guarantee to students, employers and educational partners at four-year colleges and universities, states that all WCC degree graduates will have the knowledge and performance skills required for their major program. It also allows students who meet specified qualifications to retake courses tuition free if necessary.

See WCCNET.EDU/GUARANTEE for information.

March 13: WCC & You March 30:

Scholarship Deadline: WCC Presidential & Procassini Scholarships

Gainful Employment For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed our certificate programs and other important information, please visit our website at wccnet.edu/academics/programs Washtenaw Community College does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status as provided for and to the extent required by federal and state statutes, nor does the college discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. WCC is committed to compliance in all of its activities and services with the requirements of the Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Public Act 453, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VII of the

Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, Public Act 220 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Facility access inquiries: VP for Facilities, Development and Operations, PO 112, 734-677-5322 Employment compliance inquiries: V.P. for Human Resources, BE 120, 734973-3497 Title IX or ADA/504 inquiries related to programs and services: VP for Student and Academic Services, SC 247, 734-973-3536 Washtenaw Community College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 606041411, 800-621-7440 www.hlcommission.org For information about WCC, call 734-973-3300.

The Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990 is a federal law that mandates the disclosure by all institutions of higher education of the rates of graduation, the number of incidents of certain criminal offenses, the type of security provided on campus, the pertinent policies regarding security on campus and policies that record and deal with alcohol and drug abuse. WCC is in full compliance and provides information annually through various means, including college publications, wccnet.edu or email. Inquiries concerning the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act should be directed to Washtenaw Community College, Office of the Vice President for Student and Academic Services, Student Center building, room SC 247, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-4800; 734-973-3536. © 2019 Washtenaw Community College

23

4800 E. Huron River Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48105-4800

What do you call someone who went to WCC?

Employed.

Apply today at wccnet.edu.

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