April 10, 2014

The rig technician apprenticeship program will be calling the Brooks Campus home next year according to Medicine Hat College’s (MHC) interim president Dr. Robert McCulloch.

“The program has been located at the college’s Kipling Street campus in Medicine Hat. However, we lease that site from the province and we’ve agreed to vacate to make room for an important community wellness initiative,” said McCulloch.

Joel Gingrich, MHC’s manager of trades and technologies, explains that the Brooks campus is a good location for the rig technician program due to its central location.

“Students come to the program from all over Alberta, and these individuals are used to being on the move,” said Gingrich. “The availability of support services, facilities, and residence at the Brooks campus, coupled with community accessibility and amenities, makes this move a positive one.”

He notes that the program currently serves 72 students annually.

Apprentices are employed, and spend about one month per year over a three year period in formal education to enhance on-the-job training and experiences. The Apprenticeship program requires students to complete three levels of training, all of which will occur in Brooks starting next spring.

Gingrich notes that student success is the college’s first priority. “It is important that students encounter a learning environment that meets all of their needs. We’re confident in the decision to move to Brooks; and as always we will continue to evaluate programs to be sure students, employers, and our partners with Apprenticeship and Industry Training are satisfied.”

The 2014 intake of the program has just begun at the current location in Medicine Hat.  When the students complete their training in June, Gingrich says the college will begin the transition to the Brooks campus for subsequent intakes.