By Gwendolyn Randall

When SMCC opened in 1946 it was under the name “Maine Vocational Technical Institute” and trained World War II veterans who needed new skills in the post-war economy. As the economy developed and academic requirements changed, the name changed from “Maine Vocational Technical Institute” to “Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute (SMVTI)”; then from SMVTI to “Southern Maine Technical College (SMTC)”; and finally to the “Southern Maine Community College” that we know today. Now our college has more than 6,000 students and over 40 degree and certificate programs, but the trades seem to have dropped from the spotlight.

Concern for the trade programs grows as confusion spreads over what the future of the programs will look like. Veteran and concerned student Whitney Cole expressed reservations about the relocation of the HVAC building. Currently, the HVAC building is in need of a rehaul. But the HVAC program is possibly looking at relocating to a much smaller space. Cheryl Rich, chair of the horticulture department, attended the Student Senate meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 1 to help answer some questions. She assured us that the “Master Plan” for the future of SMCC is still in its first draft and will likely change many times in the next few months while decisions are made. The Senate discussed a public forum in the works for students to understand and discuss the Master Plan before big decisions are made. The Master Plan is available for viewing by all students through the MySMCC portal.

Some misinformation has also spread throughout the campus that the construction program would be shut down entirely.

SMCC, and schools around the country, evaluate the success of their programs based on graduation and enrollment rates. A major issue with this evaluation is that many students in the trades don’t finish out their degree because they are offered full-time jobs in the field that they are studying.

So how accurate is this evaluation of success? Rich informs us that while the construction degree program is being closed, the classes are still available in a certificate program. That means that students seeking a job in the construction field can still access classes at SMCC for a certificate — which may make sense for students who don’t need a degree in order to work in their desired field.

To handle all of these concerns and more, the Student Senate has created a “Career and Trade Committee.” This committee aims to address student and faculty concerns about the future of the trades program. It also intends to work with companies that have benefited from student internships and employment, and are hence invested in the welfare of the trade programs.

Student Juniper Hathaway of the Horticulture Department says, “My experience with the trades at SMCC have been overwhelmingly positive. I’d like to see the college put a greater emphasis on supporting these programs for the benefit of the entire Southern Maine community.”

The committee is still in its early stages and is looking for fellow concerned students to collaborate with! For more information on these issues and how you can get proactive, contact gwendolynerandall@smccme.edu or juniperfhathaway@smccme.edu.