The first quarter of 2010 has been a busy one for the NIMS Accreditation Department, boasting six programs accredited in just three months, and the past two weeks have been no exception with four newly accredited programs!  Ranging from Pennsylvania to Virginia to the state of Washington, secondary and post-secondary programs are feeling the benefits of accreditation.

John Tyler Community College is celebrating the third consecutive accreditation of their Precision Machining Technology Program, which equates to 10 years of being accredited by NIMS.  Instructor Les Bell welcomed NIMS Deputy Director James Wall, who conducted the On-Site Evaluation at the program's facility in Chester, Virginia and was nothing short of impressed by the program's mission and features, as well as the staff, advisory committee involvement, and overall attention to safety.  For more information on this program, please contact Instructor Les Bell at lbell@jtcc.edu or (804) 706-5077 or visit the program's website.

Next we travel north to Schnecksville, PA where Lehigh Career & Technical Institute's Precision Machine Tool Technology Program is hanging their third consecutive NIMS Accreditation plaque as well.  Instructor Richard Bosse, who has earned an impressive 10 NIMS credentials, recently spent a day with On-Site Team Leader David Stauffer (Lancaster Co. CTC) at LCTI where the machine shop is home to 18 CNC machining centers!  In a final report Stauffer noted that the program "is extremely strong in every aspect.  Strong leadership continually drives the program to excellence.  They are solidly committed to the success of the students."  For more information on this program, please contact Instructor Richard Bosse at bosser@lcti.org or (610) 799-1428 or visit the program's website.

Heading to the western side of Pennsylvania to Latrobe, the Machine Tool Technology Program at Eastern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center has just been awarded its second accreditation since first seeking the award nine years ago.  NIMS Chairman Greg Chambers led the On-Site Evaluation and had only praise for the program's focus on meeting the needs of employers, stating that the program's goals are "strongly tied to employment and students were aware of this."  For more information on this program, please contact Instructor Kenneth A. Pedder at kpedder@wiu.k12.pa.us or (724) 539-9788 ext. 328 or visit the program's website.

Shifting to the Pacific Northwest, the CNC Machinist Program at Shoreline Community College can celebrate their first official Accreditation Award, making Shoreline the sole NIMS accredited program currently in the state of Washington.   Following the On-Site Evaluation led by NIMS Board of Directors member Mark Lashinske, Instructor Keith Smith found the entire accreditation process to be extremely useful, stating that "this program has helped both the program and me as a teacher.  Everything from reviewing safety to curriculum has helped make this a better learning environment."  After all, isn't that the goal?  For more information on this program, please contact Instructor Keith Smith at ksmith2@shoreline.edu or (206) 546-6969 or visit the program's website.