CROWNPOINT, NM – As colleges and universities throughout the nation continue to navigate the new education landscape under COVID, Navajo Technical University’s Welding Technology program has found success offering a mixed teaching strategy. On Sept. 29, the program exemplified its teaching approach by hosting a guest presentation by local 1104 pipeline welders and unveiling the program’s latest classroom technology, the VRTex 360 virtual welder.
NTU’s Welding Technology program was granted accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission in 2015 and saw a growth in enrollment each year leading up to the pandemic. As recently as 2019, the program had over 50 declared majors, many of which have graduated or progressed with their education into another program. NTU has done its best to accommodate growth by investing in outdoor learning space, but it has also been innovative acquiring new technology to enhance learning, like the VRTex 360. The virtual welder has the capability to collect data on technique and is used to improve pace and form in a controlled environment.
“I look at Navajo Technical University as the best kept secret of the Southwest and it shouldn’t be,” explained Welding Technology faculty member Christopher Storer, who was hired in 2017 to grow the program. “Our focus is on student success. We make sure that when they leave here, they’re ready to go to work to help their families by having a career.”
Part of the Welding Technology program’s success can be attributed to the extensive network of support Storer and his co-instructor, Verna Sue Casamero, have built within the welding community. Lincoln Electric has provided industry support to the program with tools, equipment, and training. Industry professionals have provided support sharing their knowledge and experience with students.
Siblings Carrie and Gary Miller Jr. of Bloomfield, NM were the latest to impart their knowledge giving insight to API Standard 1104, or the standard for welding pipelines and related facilities. Carrie brought over 22 years of experience to her presentation after first learning to weld from her father, Gary Sr. Her presentation detailed the journey to becoming a Certified Welding Inspector while reflecting on what it’s like working on various job sites across the nation. The presentation went into the pros and cons of the profession before Gary Jr. demonstrated a root pass on 6 inch pipe.
“I enjoyed presenting and I hope I helped the students,” explained Carrie, who also addressed motivation and what it’s like being a female working in a male dominated profession. “I like that Chris is providing opportunities to students and is focused on getting the materials, machines, and equipment needed to learn. A lot of places don’t do that.”
Taking a mixed learning approach to education has benefited NTU’s Welding Technology program, especially under COVID protocols that have limited indoor learning. This past summer the program participated in a co-curricular project with NTU’s Construction Technology and Energy Systems programs to construct outdoor learning space at each of NTU’s instructional sites. The project had students apply classroom learning to planning, layout, design, and construction of each structure. Welding Technology major and Crownpoint resident Kelvin Capitan participated in the project and found value in the hands-on aspect of the initiative.
“It was confusing at first, but everyone with workforce experience gave me a lot of good knowledge,” explain Capitan, who is in his last semester of the Welding Technology program. “You can learn a lot at NTU. People stay true and humble to you in sharing what they know from their experience. It builds confidence.”
NTU’s Welding Technology program has graduated 57 students since it began operation in 2015 with 73 earning certification through the American Welding Society. The program requires 33 credit hours to complete with 21 core welding credits. New students are accepted in the spring, summer, and fall semesters.
For more information about NTU’s Welding Technology certificate program visit www.navajotech.edu or contact Christopher Storer at cstorer@navajotech.edu.