South Central Louisiana Technical College, Reserve Campus is one of the few in the State with an actual working Methanol Unit for training Operators and Instrumentation Technicians.

During the summer Semester, senior students and Instructors worked to do a Real – Life Turnaround.

The system was completely overhauled, and all the valves and pumps were refurbished. It was a great learning exercise for the students who now have a real experience to take with them on to their new careers.

Several programs were involved, with Instrumentation students calibrating and repairing instruments. Students painted catwalks, valves and handled necessary striping of the floors.

Millwright students and Instructors rebuilt sections and worked on pumps and valves. It was a true collaborative effort between departments.

Students learned to work together for a common end result. The unit is used extensively for the CAPSTONE class, which is one of the last classes seniors take before graduation. They learn how to run the unit and troubleshoot problems so they are better prepared for jobs as Operators.

This was a great lesson for students, which gave instructors a rare opportunity to lend even more hands- on experience to their students. The students learned to improve their trouble shooting skills and team work skills, both of which are really important to local Industry when considering a new hire.

Since the unit is well maintained, the full shut down turnaround happens only once every four to five years. It is done during summer semester to impact fewer students. Each Semester 72 students are registered in a CAPSTONE class.

Classes are limited and always have a waiting list.

Registration is still open for the Fall semester and while classes are filling quickly, additional sections are opened to accommodate incoming students as needed.

Students enrolled in Fall classes are eligible for Campus Scholarships for the Spring semester, which is a great reason not to wait.

Apprenticeship programs are alive and well, with DOW Chemical leading the way. Several local Industries are working on beginning their own version of the Apprenticeship program, which is a great opportunity for students.

To register for the current Semester go to www.scl.edu and fill out the application. Then come in to the main building, Students Affairs office, to complete the process and schedule classes.

Penelope Freeman is Campus Dean for South Central Louisiana Technical College. She is at the Reserve Campus. Email her at penelopefreeman@ scl.edu.