Sinclair Community College offers a wide range of programs in the engineering department. Programs in aviation and automotives to computer aided manufacturing and architecture allow students a choice when it comes to their education. There are also some real-world situations to get them ready for a career.
“We are very proud of our hands on activities,” said Larraine Kapka, associate professor and chair of the Engineering Technology Design Department.
Students in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology program will install an actual heating and air-conditioning unit in a low-income housing unit as part of their education.
Students in various engineering programs will also get to work with other students around the world, mimicking current industry practices.
“In a complex world you don’t build a car in one place,” Kapka said.
These projects rely on technology to make them successful, and that means a commitment to stay current, according to Kapka.
“We work really hard to stay right up with the technology,” Kapka said. “We want our students as technologically current as we can.”
Although Kapka stresses the quality of programs and staff plus support from the community she does see a few things that could be improved.
For some projects students must travel to an off-campus, leased building facility that Kapka said isn’t as well heated or cooled as some on-campus locations. That doesn’t mean it isn’t suitable for work.
“It is big enough to build a whole house inside,” Kapka said. “The issues are mostly quality of life issues.”