Metropolitan Community College is shrinking the pathway to success between rural students and the College to help them reach their goals.
Through a grant from the National Science Foundation for Machining in Rural Areas (NSF), high school students living too far to commute to one of MCC's campuses can still participate in the College Acceleration Program through MCC's dual enrollment plans and participate in the finer points of machining, even from afar.
Set up is specialized equipment purchased through the grant, such as cutting-edge cameras that zoom into the fine details of the machining process on the MCC campus. At the same time, students participate in the hands-on experience with machines at their home school.
Far beyond online lessons, this partnership provides live, two-way communication between instructors and remote students, giving real-time feedback and answering questions as if they were physically working side-by-side. Partner schools provide lab technicians on site for safety and productivity.
With the hands-on skills they're gaining, each of currently enrolled students will have the opportunity to become paid interns with MCC's business partners, just as our on-campus students are.
These internships usually lead to permanent positions with our partnering companies, with full-time pay increases, full benefits, and a solid launch to their career.
MCC salutes our first-year partner Ray-Pec High School. They made a significant financial investment for their on-site machines. They hired an enthusiastic teacher, who has been promoted and is now overseeing the district's remodeling of a building in the heart of Raymore, Missouri housing the program.
You can work as a machinist or CNC programmer at companies such as Fike Corporation, UltraSource and more.
Visit Occupational Information Network (O*NET) to view salary information, employment outlook and personal characteristics needed for this career.
Please check with an advisor for transfer information.
Apply to MCC today!