Capital Region Career & Technical School

Answering the call for educated and experienced professionals in a high-tech, green Capital Region:

Where we are now, where we are going, and how our students benefit

Our world is changing and so, too, is Career and Technical Education. Around the globe and right here at home, advances in technology are driving economic growth and shaping 21st century careers. Construction of one of the world’s most advanced computer chip fabrication plants in Saratoga County is drawing international attention to our area.

At the same time, our concern for the environment and development of alternative energy sources are changing everything from the way we build homes and run businesses, to the vehicles we drive and the food we eat.

 

The Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School (Career & Tech) is answering the demand for highly educated and experienced professionals. We continue to provide exposure to a world of career and educational opportunities by offering to students of all ages careers without limits and a great place to learn.

Following are just a few of the latest developments at our school which benefit high school and adult students and the greater Capital Region/Tech Valley community.

Happening right now – Summer 2010:

Orbital Welding – Career & Tech’s Adult Welding Certification program completed its successful first run in April and re-launched on July 7, with students including a number of recent high school Welding grads. Among the topics of instruction are programming and operating a computer-controlled, Swagelok orbital welder, which is housed in a model clean room. Orbital welders are used to make smooth, precise welds to join metal tubing for high-tech and specialty needs for the nanotech, biotech, pharmaceutical and computer technology fields.

Photovoltaic Basics – We partnered with Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) to offer and teach on our Albany campus a Photovoltaic course this August, which we are jointly promoting. Career & Tech’s Electrical Trades teacher, John Puglisi, is the instructor.

Green & environmentally conscious products & practices – Cosmetology students at both of our campuses are learning about green products – hair care and skin formulations that are free of compounds harmful to the environment and potentially to human health – through guest speakers and classroom lessons during summer school.

Computer & Network Tech/Information Technology students are interning with the New York State Office For Technology. Gaming, MultiMedia & Web Design students are interning with Vicarious Visions and other high-tech firms.

Theatre Tech Camp – Career & Tech partnered with Proctors to offer Theatre Tech Camp for high school students July 5-9, immersing 10 teens in the latest lighting, audio and stage technology.

Robot Camp – Career & Tech partnered with Union College to offer Build A Better Robot Camp, July 12-16, giving area teens hands-on experience with automation, robotics and programming.

SEMI High Tech U – Career & Tech is proud to offer this day camp in partnership with the Center for Economic Growth, GlobalFoundries, SUNY College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, HVCC’s TEC-SMART campus at Luther Forest , SCCC, the Greater Capital Region/Tech Valley Career Pathways Consortium and NYSUT. From August 17-20, teens will explore semiconductors, nanotechnology and energy with our high-tech partners.

High-tech summer school for faculty:

A number of our teachers are spending part of their summer in training, so they can enhance their programs and impart knowledge to students in technology, energy efficiency, building performance, solar power and solar thermal. Specifically:

HVAC/R Teacher Frank Ando and Building Trades Teacher Doug Harple completed Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst training at HVCC’s TEC-SMART campus in June.

HVAC/R Teacher Frank Ando will complete training in Solar Thermal Energy this summer at Florida Solar Energy Center, which will allow him to add to high school and adult course curricula lessons on solar water heating systems.

Electrical Trades Teacher John Puglisi, who is already teaching Photovoltaic Basics for HVCC, is pursuing advanced training in Photovoltaics, which will enable him to teach advanced courses.

Welding Teachers Chris Lanese and Mike Todd completed training in clean room protocol. Taught by GlobalFoundries and clean room contractor M & W Group, the course focused on working in clean rooms, how to implement clean room protocols into construction curricula, and how to teach students basic clean room protocols.

Career & Tech teaching assistants and other staff toured HVCC's TEC-SMART facility and Simmons Machine Tool to make the connection between our school and the era of GlobalFoundries, high-tech and the green economy.

 

What’s happening during the school year

 Career & Tech students learn using the latest equipment and technology, whether they are:

 Computer & Network Technician/Information Technology and Building Trades classes
working together to build and wire a programmable smart house in the IT lab

Integrating solar panels into an HVAC or electrical system in our HVAC/R and Electrical
Trades programs

Studying energy conservation and green construction in our Building Trades and Residential/Commercial Construction programs

Computer & Network Tech/IT students, connecting with the NYS Office of Technology for an insider’s tour and internship connections, and working with the latest hardware and software in a state-of-the-art lab and classroom

Tuning a clean-burning diesel engine in our NATEF-certified Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Repair program (the only one of its kind in the state to earn such certification)

Learning about the latest hybrid vehicle technology in our Automotive Trades Technology, AYES Automotive Technician or Automotive Tech Prep programs

Studying advances in medicine and patient care in our Nurse Assistant, Health Services, Practical Nursing and New Visions: Health Careers programs

Focusing on green topics such as the electrical draw of tools, energy generation and conservation, and alternative energy including wind, solar and hydropower, in our integrated and Alternative Education science classes

Implementing green practices –reuse, recycle, renewal of learning materials – in the classroom while learning how to impart this knowledge to youngsters in our Early Childhood Education and New Visions: Human Services & Special/Elementary Education programs

Following industry protocol to conserve resources, energy and open space, and protect the environment, by reusing automotive body parts and safely handling of materials in our Auto Body Collision Repair and Auto Body Refinishing programs

Connecting the worlds of fashion, merchandising and the natural environment by incorporating recycled and renewable materials into designs and products, and learning about fabrics produced using applied nanotechnology in our Global Fashion Studies program

Studying the impact of environmental law, regulation and public policy in our New Visions: Law & Government program

 

On tap for the future:

Career & Tech is working on a number of grants to fund state-of-the-art programs for high school and adult students to meet needs in high-tech, clean energy and green construction careers. HVCC, SCCC and our business and education partnership advisory committees are part of the process.

We continue to update and add to our Career and Technical Education course offerings and are in the process of developing a new high-tech program to launch in Fall 2011.

Solar panels and a mini turbine are headed to the roof of our Albany campus, as teaching tools and real-life demonstrations of alternative energy solutions.

Also under consideration is construction of a more involved model clean room.

 

Be our guest! Explore what is happening on our campus. Our door is open, and the career and educational opportunities are limitless.

 

[7/24/2010]