Benchmark 4:
Academic Infrastructure

•Documentation detailing courses of study examples that outline studentpathways from high school to associate degrees, certificates, or industry-based certifications and beyond

•Current dated regional high-demand occupation list

•Crosswalk aligning high school and college courses, grades 9 through 12,which enables a student to earn an associate degree or up to 60 college credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree

•Master schedules

•Calendar of scheduled TSI test administration dates, sign-up process, andintervention expectations

•Aggregate reports of TSI exam performance

•Testing calendar and schedule for SAT, ACT, or other college readinessassessments

The Advanced Manufacturing Technology program is first in the State of Texas to gain accreditation through the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) is the nation’s only ANSI accredited developer of precision manufacturing skill standards and competency assessments. NIMS certifies an individual's skills against standards and accredits programs that meet their quality requirements. NIMS stakeholders represent over 6,000 American companies.

The Precision Manufacturing Certificate program, provides an environment to develop technical skills that are highly marketable to the area's industries. Most of the courses are set up to simulate actual working environments.

Technical coursework begins in the first semester in order to develop a common skill base for the program. During their first semester a student will gain the knowledge necessary to interpret industrial prints, operate machine tools, and utilize software to program Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machines.

Certificate

This curriculum offers training on a variety of advanced machining technology commonly used in machine shops and focuses on developing practical machining skills. Classroom analysis of various jobs and machine operations increases the student's capabilities as a machinist. General mathematics and communications skills are included to prepare students to work with technical advances in the machining industry.

Students are eligible to take the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certification exams, which are administered at South Texas College by certified faculty. Upon completion, this specialty will allow the student to continue in the Advanced Manufacturing Technology's two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree program or permit the student to work in a highly rewarding career field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Precision Manufacturing Technology Certificate

1. ​Students will be able to interpret the fundamentals of Cartesian coordinates, the G & M code system, and how they apply to CNC machining and setup.

2.  ​The student will be able to properly interpret prints by understanding dimensions, tolerances, sectional views, orthographic projections, and auxiliary views.

3.  The student will be able to evaluate shop and personal safety hazards common to the workplace, machine workpieces using the vertical mill and lathes equipment.