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Kirkwood Earns NIMS Accreditation

By January 20, 2015December 19th, 2018No Comments

CNC Machining Technology Program Leads a National Trend with Recently Acquired Credentials

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (January 20, 2015)– Kirkwood Community College recently received National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) accreditation for the CNC Machining Technology program. Officially accredited on September 25, 2014, Kirkwood faculty and staff have met NIMS standards and continue to set the bar for exceptional metal working training for higher education in the state of Iowa.

The push for obtaining NIMS accreditation came from a local sector board identifying the need for additional CNC operators within Kirkwood’s seven county region. Kirkwood Board members were a part of the process and supported the program push. In January of 2013, Kirkwood started an Accelerated CNC program. Students who complete the Accelerated CNC program finish with four NIMS credentials and have the option of transitioning right into the job market or into the credit CNC Machining program at Kirkwood.

“NIMS credentialing enhances the success of our students in addition to the success of our area businesses by providing nationally recognized portable, stackable, industry aligned credentials that validate a student’s knowledge and skill sets,” said Jeff Mitchell, Dean of Industrial Technologies at Kirkwood Community College. “These credentials create a viable pathway for high school academy students and non-credit students to either enter the job market at an entry level position or transition into our two-year credit CNC Machining program without duplication of study.”

In order to complete the accreditation, an on-site evaluation took place at Kirkwood this past May. The evaluation included a facility inspection of the metalworking shop, as well as several in-depth interviews with students, instructors, administrators, program advisory committee members and local employers. Following the process, accreditation was recommended. The program received above-average ratings for program purpose, facilities, equipment, tooling and measuring devices, program features, administration, instructional staff, and advisory committee support. The NIMS accreditation is based on the NIMS Skill Standards for Machining Level I and II, with an emphasis on CNC operations.

Kirkwood’s CNC Machining Technology Program was established in 1966 and currently trains and certifies up to 40 students at a time. CNC program instruction covers manual and CNC machining and a variety of critical manufacturing skills vital for students to excel in the workplace.

The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) was formed in 1995 by the metalworking trade associations to develop and maintain a globally competitive American workforce. NIMS sets skills standards for the industry, certifies individual skills against the standards and accredits training programs that meet NIMS quality requirements.