Tech college career fair a big draw
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 01:38 p.m., March 27, 2008
Updated 01:38 p.m., March 27, 2008
Representatives of business and industry filled the conference room on Wednesday at Flint Hills Technical College for the school’s annual Career Fair.
About 375 students attended the morning session; the afternoon session was open to the public, according to Eric J. Tincher, director of enrollment, management and placement.
“We want to match up students with employers,” Tincher said. “… It’s an opportunity for the students to step up with their resumes and say, ‘I’m ready to be hired,’ and an opportunity for employers to say, ‘You’re hired.’”
The annual fair helps boost students’ opportunities for employment by bringing potential employers to the college to meet with students face-to-face. Such encounters also benefit the college by keeping its post-graduation employment rate in an enviable range.
“Traditionally, we’ve always been at least 95 percent,” Tincher said. “I wouldn’t have any reason to see why it would be lower than that this year.”
Tincher said that faculty and administration stay in touch daily with industry representatives in this area and beyond. The contacts keep tech college officials up-to-date on the employment needs and trends in the industries and businesses.
“Our survival depends on it,” Tincher said.
The tech college added a new feature to its Career Fair this year by bringing in representatives of several Kansas universities.
Students are doing more “two plus two,” Tincher said, attending the tech college for two years, then going on to a college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree. Many of the tech college classes can be transferred to colleges for credit.
“We’ve worked very hard on articulated agreements,” Tincher said of the class credits that can be transferred. “We’re just a different animal than a university. … Any chance we can do some of those partnerships, we want to work on that.”
Tincher said that FHTC continues to gain recognition for its programs across the state, which increases enrollment at the college and employment opportunities for its graduates.
“We’re been recruiting more from across the state, and we’re bringing in more business from across the state,” he said. “Our name is certainly known, which is good.”
Enrollment for next semester will begin on Saturday.
Career Fair participants this year were: Mary Kay Cosmetics, Wichita Electrical Training Center, Sauder Custom Fabrication, Coffey County Health System, Ottawa Retirement Village, Norfolk Iron and Metal, Emporia State University, Pittsburg State University, Hartford Inc., Detroit Diesel, Philips Lighting Company, Flint Hills Community Health Center, Life Care Center of Burlington, Stouse Inc. of New Century, Ed Bozarth/Saturn of Topeka, Westar Energy, Emporia Presbyterian Manor, Sterling House, Alma Foods, KVOE, Camoplast, Hopkins Manufacturing, Medicalodges of Eureka, Glendo, Vektek, Kansas Department of Commerce KanWork, and U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army and Marine Corps recruiters.
justamom (anonymous) says...
It's to bad that most of the credits wont even transfer to ESU. The tech college is a joke. And the people who reel you in only want your money. I went there about 6 months ago and was helped by a very nice, caring woman who did admissions. She was great. But i returned a few weeks ago to find out about transfer of credits to ESU and someone had taken over the ladies job, the girl who tried to help me did not know what she was doing and i could barely understand her. I was brushed off by a lady in Financial Aid as if i was not important, however the financial aid director came out to try to help me. Dont know who the first lady was, but she acted as if her cell phone and messenger she was playing on on-line was more important. And she was the one who stopped me and said she was financial aid and could she help me. And then some bald headed man tried to act as if i belonged there. Come of FHTC, get your stuff straight. I bet the first admissions lady who helped me found a better college to work for.
March 27, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )