Due to a shortage of workers in the field of welding, Missouri Souther, and Crowder College have created a welding institute that will take place on MSSU’s campus.

The Alliance, an educational cooperative between the two schools, developed the program.

Students spend 120 hours learning production welding to prepare them for entry-level production work.

“About 80 percent of that time will consist of hands-on time in the shop, and 20 percent developing work readiness skill,” said Nancy Kenny, director of sales and marketing at The Alliance.

Day classes begin Sept. 24 in the Ummel Technology Building and will run for three weeks. There also will be an evening class for companies to send workers to be trained, or to advance skills. There are no prerequisites for the class and it is open to anyone who is at least 18 years old or older. A GED is not required.

Marcia Sommer has years of welding experience and will be instructor for the class. Sommer is a member of the American Welding Society, and was 2007 Instructor of the Year for the southwest Missouri area.

“Marcia is very qualified to instruct this class,” said Claude Howard, business director of The Alliance.

“Most of the equipment that the students need is provided by the school,” Howard said. “We’ve got gas, and metal, and Lozier, a company here in Joplin, has donated steel to the program.”

Chuck Sexson, welding instructor at Franklin Institute and Thermal Engineering employee, says welding is an important skill with a call for more workers.

“You can work 40 hours a week or you can work very little, but there is always work to be done,” he said. “This field is on high demand.” “A common misconception about welding is that people think that anyone can do it, but it takes skill and talent. It takes stamina, moving your arms, and you might stand in one place all day long.”

MSSU’s program is part of the Trade Readjustment Act, a program to help individuals who have been laid off. The TRA trains workers in a new trade, giving them a chance at a job in a high demand field in their local area.

The Alliance works with representatives from many local companies including: Able Manufacturing, Cardinal Detecto, Holden Industries, K&S Wire, Lozier, Mid-America Precision Products, Thermal Engineering, and Thorco Industries. They are looking at the possibility of piloting a welding institute after a successful project developed in conjunction with LaBarge Incorporated.