Great New Well-Paying Career Path - Process Technology

Process Technology is a new program asked fro by the booming ethanol industry as well as many other facilities that produce everything from fertilizer (NH3), polymers, plastics, oil & gas refining, water treatment, and electrical power production. Investing in a Process Technology program like the one offered at Iowa central Community College can yield starting annual salaries of $40,000-60,000!

Iowa Central's program description states:
Have you ever wondered who makes ethanol, anhydrous ammonia, feed stuffs, or bio diesel? Process Technicians make this happen. Technicians take raw materials like corn, soybeans, natural gas, and even air and make them into things we use or consume in some way all the time, by monitoring the process with complex technology. 

For questions and inquiries, please contact Shadd Scharf (scharf@iowacentral.edu, (515)574-1917).

SNOW DAY? NO, IT'S MATH DAY!

UNI's Math Day - December 9th, 2014

• Discuss career opportunities in mathematics, financial aid and student life with the parents.
• Two of UNI's dynamic professors do interesting and fun workshops with students.
• Students compete for UNI mathematics department scholarships. (The top five students attending Math Day will be guaranteed at least $1,500 in scholarships)

If interested interested, students should make a reservation to attend Math Day by calling (319) 273-2631. 

UNI has three undergraduate majors: Mathematics, Secondary Mathematics Teaching (nearly 100% placement rate), and Statistics and Actuarial Science (starting salary around $65,000+).  

Career Spotlight: HVAC Technicians

Do you like to be on the move? 
Do you like to work with your hands? 
Do you want to have a well-paying job, but aren't interested in attending too many years of college?

Have you ever considered a career in Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)?! 

Check out the information below taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

• What do HVAC technicians do, exactly? 

They work on heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings.

• What is the work environment like?

HVAC technicians work in residential homes, schools, hospitals, office buildings, or factories. Their worksites may be very hot or cold because the heating and cooling systems they must repair may not be working, and because some parts of these systems are located outdoors. Irregular hours and working in cramped spaces are common.

• What can I expect for a salary as an HVAC technician? 

The median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers was $43,640 in May 2012.

• What is the job outlook?

Employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Candidates familiar with computers and electronics and those with good troubleshooting skills will have the best job opportunities as employers continue to have difficulty finding qualified technicians to 

work on complex new systems.

• How do I become an HVAC technician? 

There are several technical colleges nearby that offer this quick program. Iowa Lakes Community College's HVAC program is based on their Estherville campus. 

Students interested in hearing more about this career should contact me with their interest regarding upcoming events focused on HVAC programming.

Paying for College

The thought of how to pay for the the high price tags of many post-secondary institutions can be frightful! And if you're in my boat, the wonder of "Will I ever pay back my $80K+ student loans?!" is a discouraging and consistent reminder of how you didn't make smart choices in deciding how to pay for college.

Good news, you/your child does not have to struggle to live after college, but the cards must be played right!

• Start the conversations now of who will be responsible for the payment of college. The topic can be stressful, but avoiding it is not doing anyone any favors!
• If you haven't already, start saving now! Do your best to put aside money each paycheck to begin creating a cushion. Check into 529 Plans!
• Use the FAFSA4caster to receive early estimates, create scenarios based on future earnings, and consider various college funding strategies!
• One of the biggest mistakes families make in the college application process is failing to apply for financial aid. Download a free FAFSA guide here! 
• Don't forget about the Iowa Financial Aid Application as well!
• Apply for scholarships!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Attend Financial Aid Night at the school. This year's presentation: Tuesday, November 11th at 7:15pm in the Black Box.