Above: Lead Process Operations Technology instructor Tommie Broome (right) works with student A. J. Hollman on one of the many pieces of equipment in the PTECH classroom. The equipment allows students to solve problems in scenarios developed by the instructor during hands-on practice.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Process Operations Technology (PTECH) program received notification this week that they had received accreditation through the North America Process Technology Alliance Endorsement (NAPTA) Audit process. NAPTA is a national organization of Process Technology industries and educational institutions working together.

“The audit, which actually took place in August 2016, is an important step for the program to define its value to our students and the industries we serve,” said Tommie Broome, lead PTECH instructor. “Endorsement is an important step for our program. Industries recognize this effort as a symbol that we are teaching to an accepted standard and the graduates they hire will be ready for the workforce.”

MGCCC’s PTECH program, housed at the Jackson County Campus, offers both day and evening classes.  There are currently more than 275 students in the program.

Broome said the program has been a member of NAPTA since 2003, but had not applied for endorsement until 2016. “It was quite an undertaking. The audit involved close scrutiny of our lesson plans, policies, procedures and testing materials” she said. “One important criteria for endorsement involves an active advisory team. They interviewed members of our advisory team and students in the program. The program passed with excellence because of its outstanding industry support.”

Through collaboration of industry, educational institutions, government, and others, NAPTA supports the development of a diverse, qualified Process Technology talent pool to meet workforce needs in North America. The major objectives of NAPTA include maintaining standards for PTEC programs that assure quality graduates and regularly evaluate conformance to those standards; evaluating and improving the NAPTA curriculum and supporting educational materials to meet the needs of industry and educational partners, participating in activities that advance Process Technology career awareness; driving instructional excellence by providing professional development opportunities; and promoting NAPTA to increase partnerships with educational institutions, industry, vendors, and others.