Enterprise State Community College, Alabama

Please join us in congratulating this month’s NC3 School on the Rise, Enterprise State Community College from Enterprise, Alabama! 

Enterprise State Community College has displayed remarkably rapid growth in their Mechatronics Program since joining NC3 in 2019. In just one year, Enterprise State has expanded their program by becoming an NC3 Leadership School and has started implementing 11 Festo Certifications as well as 6 Snap-on Certifications. 

Manufacturing – and in particular, Advanced Manufacturing – is one of the top 5 needed professions in the state of Alabama, which is why Enterprise State Community College decided to pursue a Mechatronics Program.

Aubri Hanson, Enterprise State’s Mechatronics Program Manager and Instructor has developed this brand new program to mirror leading industry standards, value student academic-life balance, and provide graduates with the tools they need to enter the workforce.

Coming from industry herself, Aubri recognizes the value that NC3 Certifications bring to her students. She states, 

I spent 12 years in Industry before I started teaching, so I understand that having those certifications is what the industry values in their employees. That’s what they’re looking for. Even if employers don’t know what Enterprise State Community College is, they know what a Snap-on or Festo Certification is.

Aubri continues to describe why she chose Festo equipment, in particular. She explains, “I had the opportunity to choose all of the equipment and the direction to take the program. In meeting and seeing all of the different vendors and equipment, I really liked that Festo equipment was tied directly to industry certifications. I love that Festo equipment is used in industry and that it’s modular so you can totally disassemble and reassemble everything on those trainers.”

Despite having joined the NC3 Network just 1 year ago, Enterprise State Community College students are already benefiting from their certifications! Aubri says, 

In the short time that our students have been earning NC3 Certifications, I’ve already had students acquire jobs because of the certificates they’ve earned. Already in the first semester we offered NC3 certifications, it’s paying off for our students.

Through the development of their Mechatronics Program, Enterprise State Community College launched a new and innovative class structure. Aubri explains, 

We’re offering our Mechatronics program in a brand new format that is not being done anywhere else in Alabama. Our program is 100% flexibly scheduled. After completing the theory portion of the certification, our students can go online to a calendar and book lab time to complete the hands-on portion of the certification. There are no set course times.

She continues, “The students can come into the labs at any time that’s convenient for them. We keep the lab open from 8 am to 8 pm so students can come in around their schedule.” This flexibility allows students to work around their own schedules, whether they have other classes throughout the day or work full-time jobs. This creates the opportunity for more one-on-one learning experiences with our instructors too.

So, what’s next for Enterprise State Community College? Aubri hopes to grow their Mechatronics Program and add higher-level certifications. She adds,

I would like to create more synergy between the NC3 Certifications so students can continue their certifications throughout different departments.

We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Enterprise State Community College. We’re truly humbled by your demonstration of what passion and innovation can bring to Career and Technical Education (CTE).

Congratulations again on earning the designation of NC3’s September 2020 School on the Rise!

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Stay tuned for our next School on the Rise recipient in October 2020!

Questions about NC3’s School on the Rise? Please contact Erika Staackmann, Customer Success Coordinator, 847.533.6985, Erika.Staackmann@nc3.net