2018 Education

2018 EDUCATION MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS MARCH 1, 2018 Page 41 environment and finding a career path will have a legitimate chance to reach their goal In an article written by WICS/20 in January, 2014, Brian Huff, CEO of Midwest Technical Institute in Springfield stated that for trade schools, job placement is the main indicator of their success. "One of the key drivers of our accreditation is based on job placement. So we're required to have a minimum of 70 percent job placement on a particular program for it to maintain eligibility," Huff said. MTI brags an 82 percent job placement rate at their Springfield campus, but some programs have an even higher success rate. Program directors say between 90 to 100 percent of dental assistant students will have a job paying around $34,500 a year when they finish the program, and the program takes just 36 weeks to complete. "We may have welders and HVAC that are close to the $40,000 range," and Huff said. "Our CDL students make $40,000 to $50,000 when they leave here." Huff says high school seniors should strongly consider their options before paying tuition for four years. He said the department of labor reports few career fields that require a four- year degree. "When you look at it, 12 percent of the jobs in America require a bachelor's degree: 12 percent. So why are we telling 100 percent of high school graduates to go get one?” Huff said. MTI offers skilled trade training in Allied Health and Mechanical Trades, where students can gain knowledge in career programs such as welding, heating and air conditioning repair, major appliance repair, medical assisting, dental assisting, medical coding, pharmacy technician, certified nurses assistant, and more. They have campuses in Springfield, East Peoria, Moline, Illinois; Springfield Missouri; and Brownsburg, Indiana. One approach to education will not fit every potential student and every budget. Consider the cost, the commitment and the outcome, and choose a path that is right for you. [Jim Youngquist] Pew Research article on the value of a college education: http://www.pewresearch.org/ fact-tank/2011/06/02/purpose-of-college- education/ Article on MTI in Wikipedia: https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest_Technical_ Institute Web page for careers offered at MTI: http://careers.midwesttech. edu/springfield-il-technical-trade-career- programs/?matchtype=b&network =g&adposition=1t1&keyword=tech nical%20schools%20springfield%20 il&campaign=298529304&content =232564765886&device=c&campa ignid=1066&utmsource=technical- trade-Google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7__ r5ay32QIVnbXACh0w6A7w EAAYASAAEgKTL_D_BwE Web page for the history of MTI: https:// www.midwesttech.edu/campuses/springfield- il/campus-history/ Article from WICS-20: http:// profoundlydisconnected.com/wp-content/ uploads/2014/01/MTI-article-Jan-2014.pdf