May 13, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Southwestern adds welding technology program

By LARRY PETERSON

CNA photo by LARRY PETERSON Darwin Wetzel, welding instructor at Southwestern Community College, leads an adult continuing education class in the welding lab Tuesday evening. The college's board of directors approved a new degree program in welding technology for the 2010-11 academic year.

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A diploma program will soon be offered at Southwestern Community College in one of the state’s fastest growing occupation.

The Southwestern Board of Directors Tuesday unanimously approved a recommendation to begin offering a one-year diploma program in welding technology in the fall of 2010.

Darwin Wetzel, current SWCC welding instructor for adult education classes and classes associated with the college’s auto technology and construction programs, will direct the welding technology sequence of courses over two 16-week semesters.

Bill Taylor, Southwestern vice president of instruction, said the colege advisory committee supported the plan as a possible prelude to offering a two-year applied science degree in the future. An ongoing demand for skilled welders in the manufacturing industry has driven the plan.

“In 2008 a survey was done among local manufacturers asking them for their input on welding,” Taylor told the board. “They told us there wasn’t a lot of skilled workforce out there among welders and sheet-metal fabricators. They indicated they hire 30 to 35 employees every year in this (eight-county) area. But since that survey was sent out, we have heard from at least four other companies indicating they will hire between 60 and 80 skilled welders in the next few years.”

Iowa Workforce Development studies have projected an 11.5 percent growth in welding job opportunities in the state between now and 2016. Millwrights, welders and sheet-metal workers are on the list of fastest growing jobs in Iowa.

“We feel there is a demand for this trade in this area and in the state,” Taylor said. “The statewide industry average wage for entry-level welders is approximately $14.50 per hour. Maybe a little lower in this part of the state, but still a pretty decent wage.”

Wetzel, however, said with manufacturing layoffs in the past year, competition could be brisk for those jobs that do open up, which emphasizes the need for improving skills.

“You’ll hve to be at the top of your game,” Wetzel said.

Taylor said a good environment for learning top-level welding tehniques will be provided by a “state-of-the-art” welding lab, furnished by economic development funds.

SWCC officials visited similar programs at Southeastern Community College and Des Moines Area Community College, which are among the eight existing welding technology training programs in the state.

“We looked it all over and put together our curriculum,” Taylor said.

Course work will include both gas and electric welding in the industrial setting, technical math, blueprint reading and business writing and pre-employment strategies designed to enhance an effedtive job search upon completion.

The classes will be taught in the Technology Center, currently under renovation on the east edge of the Creston campus.