Marvin and Northland Community Technical College Introduce First-of-its-Kind Mechatronics Training Program in Warroad, Minn.

WARROAD, Minn. – Marvin, a premium manufacturer of windows and doors, announced today its partnership with Northland Community and Technical College (Northland) to bring a new, accredited mechatronics program to Warroad, Minnesota, in January 2022. The new program features innovative curriculum and delivery methods that will support the growing need for advanced manufacturing automation skill sets – not just nationwide, but especially in northwest Minnesota.

This first-of-its-kind education option provides a modernized, human-centered curriculum that enables students to structure their learning schedule around their individual needs and advance at their own pace through online learning and in-person skills assessments.

“Advanced manufacturing automation is the highest sought-after skill set in the country and mechanical, electrical, automation, and manufacturing technologies are an urgent and growing need for employers throughout Minnesota,” said Peggy Anderholm, Education Manager, ARC. “This partnership allows Marvin to be a part of the solution while providing a first-of-its-kind education opportunity to our community. We could not be more excited to see the long-term impact this will bring to Warroad, to Minnesota, and to Marvin.”

The new mechatronics program required adaptive thinking and collaboration to come to life. Marvin donated the Warroad facility that will serve as Northland’s fourth site and committed to remodeling it into a mechatronics lab with an attached student study and meeting space, as well as a space for future programming collaboration. Northland invested in a redesign of the mechatronics curriculum and will staff a full-time instructor in Warroad while enhancing support services for students in Roseau County and the surrounding areas.

The new facility, the Advanced Resource Center for Innovation and Education (ARC), is rooted in a competency-based education (CBE) model that caters to all learners regardless of their education goals. The CBE model does not rely on traditional college timelines or semester blocks and allows students to enter courses any time during the year while working through the material at their own pace and on their own schedule. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to complete competency demonstrations with an instructor to gain credit for prior learning.

Students will be able to earn up to a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree or any number of certificates within the 60-credit program. Courses will also be available on a stand-alone basis to help students master a specific new skill or take their personal interests to the next level.

As an added community benefit, junior and senior students at Warroad High School will have the opportunity to complete the Certified Production Technologist program, comprised of the first four courses of the mechatronics curriculum. The high school program can be completed for college credit or for a Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) industry certificate and will provide an opportunity for paid work experience, giving students a head start on their post-secondary education or career.

Enrollment for the Northland mechatronics program at the new facility will open this fall on a rolling basis for January 2022 students. Scholarships and financial aid may be used toward tuition costs. More information on the new mechatronics opportunity can be found at northlandcollege.edu.