PIPEFITTING
Workforce Education
Career Spotlight: Welding & Pipefitting
by Cliff Bishop
Degree Options:
Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technology – (67 hours)
Certificate of Completion in Welding Technology – 38 hours)
Certificate of Completion in Inspection Technology – (21 hours)
Associate of Applied Science in Pipefitting Technology – (63 hours)
Certificate of Completion in Pipefitting Technology – (28 hours)
Certificate of Completion in Pipefitter Helper – (17 hours)
Job Outlook:
Good job opportunities are expected for skilled workers because some employers are reporting difficulty finding qualified workers.
Related Occupations:
Assemblers and fabricators, boilermakers, computer control programmers and operators, jewelers and precious stone and metal workers, machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic, machinists, plumbers, pipelayers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, sheet metal workers, tool and die makers.
Potential Earnings:
The average industrial pay for experienced welders and pipefitters ranges from $15.75 – $25.35 per hour in most of Texas.
For more information, contact Rod Hellyer at 281.425.6460 or rhellyer@lee.edu.
Service of the Month: Student Affairs
The division of Student Affairs located primarily in Moler Hall is the heart of campus. It is your first stop when arriving to Lee College as a new student, a pit stop to help you stay successful as a current student, and your last stop as you file for graduation and transfer to an university. Current students benefit from the following services:
Admissions
Counseling
Financial Aid
Student Activities Project Leeway
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Student Career & Employment Office
Title V – Student Success Center
Educational Opportunity Center Assists eligible students on an individual basis with:
Please call first to schedule an appointment: 281-421-0553; Website: www.lee.edu/eoc Information Desk
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Professor of the Month:
Whitlow, Speech
Ray Whitlow grew up in Barrett Station and graduated from Baytown’s Ross S. Sterling High School in 1984. For Whitlow, the prevailing thought when he completed high school was to “get out,” so at the age of 17, Whitlow joined the United States Army after he was told by a counselor that he wasn’t “college material.”
While in the service, Whitlow decided to take several college classes that were offered on the base where he was stationed. He admits that he was only going to take a few classes just so he could say he had been to college, but then discovered that he enjoyed learning.
“Soon, my tour of three years was up and it was time for me to make the decision to re-enlist or get out. The decision was easy. I had already made up my mind to be a lifer in the military," said Whitlow. “In the service, life was easy. The army gave me a place to stay, food to eat, and clothes to wear. All of my needs were met by the government.”
However, for Whitlow, the desire to learn kept tugging at him and he decided to make a bold move to get out of the army and enroll at the University of Houston.
“Going to the University of Houston and having to pay rent and be responsible for myself, suddenly, life got hard. However, I managed to get a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Arts in Speech Communication, and I thought I wanted to make my mark in corporate America,” added Whitlow.
However, all along while Whitlow was in Houston working for a corporation, he still had a desire to learn and missed the classroom.
“I started teaching one class in speech as an adjunct at Lee College,” said Whitlow. “As the semester progressed, students began delivering speeches and gaining more confidence. They gained this confidence because I was able to teach them. I remember leaving the class and going home feeling that I had done some good in the world,” added Whitlow.
Whitlow said, “I moved on to teach at the University of Houston Downtown campus part-time and decided to try to get a full time job at a community college. It turns out that there was an opening at Lee College, so I applied.” Nine years later, Whitlow is the Chair of the Speech Communication, Languages, and Teacher Education Division at Lee College. Last May, Whitlow received the Robert Wahrmund Excellence In Education Award, an award bestowed by a faculty committee each year.
“While I am very proud of the many awards I received in the U.S. Army, my Excellence in Education Award is by far the most honored I have been in my life,” said Whitlow.
“I feel teaching is my calling. I find fulfillment in helping students to improve their communication skills and to watch them overcome their fears of public speaking,” said Whitlow.
“Thomas Wolfe wrote You Can’t Go Home Again, and when I graduated from high school back in 1984 and left Baytown, I really did not want to return. However, sometimes life has a way of bringing one back to where one started. I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be. It is good to be back in Baytown working at Lee College guiding students toward their educational goals,” said Whitlow.
Upcoming Events
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Continuing Education (CE) Spring Registration begins Wednesday, January 13 @ 9:00 a.m. and continues throughout the semester.
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Runnin’ Rebels Basketball vs. Tyler J.C. Jan 23 @ 7:00 p.m. in the Sports Arena
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Runnin’ Rebels Basketball vs. Paris J.C. Jan 30 @ 4:00 p.m. in the Sports Arena
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Lady Rebels Tennis vs. Abilene Christian University Jan 31 at the Lee College courts. Learn more at the Lady Rebels' Tennis Facebook
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Celebration of International Education – Jan 24th through Feb 5th (Download flyer)
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College Day – Representatives of area colleges on-campus Jan 28 @ 9:30am-12:30pm in the Student Center
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FREE CE Health Care Orientation on Wednesday, Feb 10 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. in Tucker Hall. Call 281-425-6311 to register.
Download Campus MapCampus Shout-outs
75th Anniversary Video Interviews
Lee College students and employees share how they established their legacy of leadership and learning.
www.lee.edu/happy75/video.asp
More videos will be added soon.
2010 Celebrations of International Education
Learn more about International Education at www.lee.edu/international
Continuing Education
Continuing Education is committed to promoting quality education, skill enhancement, and economic development to our service area. We provide opportunities for lifelong learning and professional development for individuals of all ages through a wide selection of non-credit courses both in the classroom and online.
For more information on course descriptions, requirements, dates, times, and prices, please view the fall schedule at www.lee.edu/ce, call 281-425-6311, or visit us at 909 Decker Drive. Office hours: Mon. – Thurs. 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Continuing Education
Spring 2010 Registration is now in progress.
February Classes: |
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Healthcare
Security and Safety
Workforce Development
Computer Technology
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Online Learning
Small Business Development Center
Recreation and Fitness
Something for Seniors |
Library News: Online Catalog Upgrade
Next time you go to look up something in the Lee College Library, you may notice something different. This semester we are switching to a new online catalog. The new catalog allows us to provide a level of service previously unavailable. For example, you can choose to save your reading history, renew checked out books, and place holds on unavailable items through this system! We are always available to help you at the Reference Desk, over the phone at 281-425-6584 (Toll Free 1-800-261-9556), or by email at library@lee.edu.
New Digital Forensics Program at Lee College
This fall Lee College began a new program leading to a two-year degree in Digital Forensics. Students who complete this program will be able to transfer to Sam Houston State University to complete their bachelor’s degree in digital forensics. This is a fast growing employment field.
What exactly is “digital forensics?” Digital Forensics was previously called “computer forensics” but with the advent of storage on cell phones, PDAs, TiVO, and other devices, the term to refer to this branch of forensic science pertaining to legal evidence found in computers and digital storage mediums was changed to “digital forensics.”
With the spread of Internet access and so many jobs which use computers, there is the opportunity for misuse or abuse—whether intentional or accidental—which may be found by investigating the storage mediums on the devices. Industry needs to be able to investigate incidents in such a way that the evidence collected will be able to be used in court, if necessary. Because of this, the program incorporates courses in criminal justice, computer maintenance, and networking as well as the digital forensics course work.
We are now going into our second semester of courses toward a two-year degree in this program. Find out more about the program, and register for the three new courses being offered this spring!
Contact Suzanne Nordhaus of the Computer Technology department, at snordhaus@lee.edu or 832-556-4520.
Visit the Student Career & Employment Center for
help building your resume before the big Job Fair in March 2010!
For more information visit www.lee.edu/hirearebel
Program Recognition for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at Lee College
On August 18, 2009, the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree at Lee College received Program Recognition from the Texas Skill Standards Board (TSSB). The program was recognized as being integrated with the industry-defined GIS Technician Skill Standards.
The skill standards enhanced program will benefit both employers and graduates. Graduates will gain the work competencies – skills and knowledge- that employers have agreed are required for entry-level technicians in cartography and related fields concerned with the collection and analysis of geographic data. Employers in turn will gain a more qualified workforce.
The GIS Technician Skill Standards were developed from an original skills analysis conducted in San Diego, California, by a panel of GIS analysts, specialists, and coordinators, engineering aides, and senior regional planner, and validated by subject matter experts from California and Texas. Texas participants included representation from private industry, education, and government. The skill standards may be viewed on the TSSB web site at www.tssb.org.
The Lee College GIS AAS Degree is one of only three GIS programs in the state of Texas to receive the TSSB Program recognition.
SAVE THE DATE! You are invited to join in the celebration of Lee College’s 75th Anniversary. Lee College will be sponsoring a 75th Birthday Community Celebration on Saturday, March 6th at Bicentennial Park from 11 am to 6 pm. The 75th Anniversary Committee has been working hard to organize an exciting Kids Zone, Arts and Crafts, live bands (jazz, country and western and blues/rock), food vendors, and many other activities. If you would like to participate by volunteering, please contact Mary Ann Amelang at 6256.
