CADILLAC — Baker College’s Cadillac campus is accepting applications for the second cohort of the Michigan Advanced Technician Training (MAT2) Mechatronics Program that begins Monday, Oct. 24.
The MAT2 program is a competitive opportunity for students to earn an associate degree in mechatronics at no cost to them. Tuition is paid by sponsoring manufacturers that provide employment for the students while attending college and upon graduation.
“This is an incredible opportunity for anyone who loves to work with their hands and is mechanically inclined,” said Kelly Smith, Baker College of Cadillac president. “MAT2 offers a free, high-tech education that results in a job with a great future.”
Training will take place at one of several northern Michigan manufacturers, including in Petoskey and Boyne City.
Students in the program learn electrical, mechanical and electronic skills used to identify, analyze and solve manufacturing problems. Students navigate the program as a tight-knit unit, attending college and working at the sponsoring companies in recurring eight-week intervals. Students can live in Baker College housing in Cadillac during school sessions. Each selected participant is ensured a steady income throughout the program: a weekly stipend to assist with personal expenses while attending classes and, when working, an hourly wage that increases annually when the student has met program requirements.
Students interested in applying for the 2016 cohort must meet certain academic qualifications, including being high school graduates at the start of the program and providing their ACT scores or taking the Compass exam. Once approved for the program, applicants are interviewed by the sponsoring companies for final selection. Applications are being accepted through Friday, Oct. 7.
The word mechatronics stems from the combination of the words mechanical and electronics. The mechatronics associate degree focuses on the electrical, mechanical and electronic skills used to identify, analyze and solve manufacturing problems. A mechatronics technician supports engineers by maintaining manufacturing machines and related equipment, including repairing, testing and making minor modifications to them.
For more information about mechatronics and MAT2, contact Joshua Fenner at (231) 876-3032 or joshua.fenner@baker.edu or visit www.baker.edu.
Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1911, Baker College grants doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as certificates in academic fields including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services.