South Central College celebrates new hands-on experiences with State of the College Address

NORTH MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - South Central College celebrated new programs, expansions and other achievements with community partners at donors at a State of the College Event on Thursday, April 30.

As part of the event a variety of speakers highlighted the college’s recent successes like new evening cohort for the welding program, to make an in demand field more accessible for a wider variety of students.

The college also took a moment to celebrate the success of its partnership with the Uniquely Abled Academy and Taylor Corporation to give neurodivergent students more hands on experiences in the field of manufacturing.

College staff also spoke about the school’s upcoming lab space and community clinic that will provide new hands on experiences for dental assisting and surgical technology students, while also providing services for community members who need affordable dental care.

Dr. Ritu Raju, the college president, says expanding hands on experiences like this has been a priority for her first 10 months in office.

“The major takeaways are that our employers are hurting for talent and that’s true across our state, unemployment is really low so our biggest focus along with our employers is how to tailor our programs to fit their most pressing needs,” Dr. Raju said.

Dr. Raju says the college is also talking with many regional employers about what they’re expecting they’ll need from new graduates in the next 10 years, so that the school can adapt its programs to meet those needs.

She says one major concern is AI, and how it might change many of the industries the school’s 4,500 students wish to participate in.

Dr. Raju says the college is talks with many industry leaders about how the developing field of technology is being used and what students might need to know to stay competitive.

Click here to download the KEYC News Now app or our KEYC First Alert weather app.