CT State Manchester Launches Evening Precision Manufacturing Program to Meet Growing Demand
CT State Community College (CT State) Manchester has announced the launch of its first-ever evening Precision Manufacturing Certificate program beginning in January. This new evening option is designed to help fill industry need for skilled workers while providing adults and part-time students with the skills to pursue a career in manufacturing at a time that suits their busy schedules.
Since 2007, CT State Manchester has offered manufacturing programs that have equipped students with the skills to enter Connecticut’s manufacturing sector. This evening program will now enable students to complete the Precision Manufacturing Certificate on a part-time basis over the course of 35 weeks, with the same comprehensive curriculum as the daytime program. Students attend classes Monday through Thursday, starting at 5:30 p.m.
“We are proud to offer this new program format that allows greater flexibility for students who are working or have other daytime commitments,” said Mathew Spinelli, CT State Manchester director of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology program. “As one of the most comprehensive and efficient credit-bearing manufacturing programs in Connecticut, it is perfectly positioned to fast-track students into high-demand manufacturing careers in a short time frame.”
The program consists of five 7-week sessions and covers essential skills in both conventional and computer numerical control (CNC) machining. Students will gain hands-on experience on lathes and milling machines, CNC programming and operations, and interpreting engineering blueprints. Graduates of the program are equipped with the foundational knowledge and skills to secure entry-level positions as machinists, CNC operators, and quality control inspectors.
During the program, students can earn multiple nationally recognized credentials, including up to four from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) and an OSHA-10 credential. The program’s 37 credits are also stackable, leading to other credentials and can be applied toward an associate degree, which is fully transferable to Central Connecticut State University and the University of Hartford.
Those who are interested are encouraged to apply early, as the evening cohort is expected to fill quickly. Classes begin January 24. For more information, contact Mathew Spinelli, director of the advanced manufacturing technology program, mathew.spinelli@ctstate.edu.
As Connecticut’s leading institution for manufacturing education and the largest producer of manufacturing graduates in the state, CT State trains more than 2,400 students annually in state-of-the-art facilities across 11 locations statewide. Students can choose from 50 credit and noncredit programs in machining, mechatronics and robotics, precision manufacturing, welding and fabrication, plastics, and manufacturing engineering technology. More than 90 percent of students secure jobs upon graduating.
As part of CT State’s open house events in November, CT State Manchester will be open November 14, 4:30-7 p.m. for information and tours. For more information on CT State’s advanced manufacturing technology programs, visit ctstate.edu/engineering-technology.
About CT State
Following the merger of the 12 Connecticut community colleges on July 1, 2023, CT State Community College has become the largest community college in the Northeast and sixth largest in the nation, serving close to 70,000 students annually. As Connecticut’s largest and most affordable college, CT State is committed to providing accessible, high-quality education in a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Students benefit from a streamlined financial aid process, applying once to take classes at any of the CT State campuses, which include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven and North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown and Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury and Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson and Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington and Bristol). CT State’s college office is located in New Britain. Visit ctstate.edu for more information.
