Mechatronics Program Gets New Training Equipment, Thanks to Private Donations and NSF Grant

New state-of-the-art manufacturing training stations
for the Mechatronics Program.

The Mechatronics Program purchased six state-of-the-art manufacturing training stations, thanks to a combination of generous private donations and grant money from the National Science Foundation totaling approximately $250,000.
The stations will be used to teach and test Mechatronics students on programming, troubleshooting and maintaining real-world, high-tech assembly line equipment that is used by industrial manufacturers today.

Each station is equipped with an on-board programmable controller that allows instructors Dave Mack and Denis Green to vary the function of each station as well as insert faults that will test the troubleshooting skill levels of students at each stage of their training.

This gives the instructors the ability to test each student’s ability equally using the same circumstances, said Dave Mack - something for which earlier equipment did not allow. The modular stations can be used individually, or linked together to form a complete manufacturing line.

On the technology side, the stations integrate sensors, servos, robotics, micro-inspection cameras and energy efficiency measuring tools such as leak detectors with basic assembly line components such as pneumatic and hydraulic actuators, conveyor belts, start/stop stations and alarms.

The program's goal is to add additional stations to the line in the future, as funding permits.

President Hamann Appointed to Quality Education Commission

Greg Hamann

President Greg Hamann has been appointed by Governor John Kitzhaber to serve a four-year term on the state Quality Education Commission.

Dr. Hamann’s appointment makes him the first person on the commission who works outside of the K-12 education system. He will begin to serve on the commission this month.

Created in 2001 with a primary focus on K-12, the non-partisan commission is expanding its work to include pre-kindergarten through public higher education.

“This appointment is a recognition not just of my efforts and contributions, but of those of the entire LBCC community,” said Dr. Hamann.

The commission’s task is to refine and validate the state’s Quality Education Model (QEM), which was developed in 1999 to establish research-based connections between resources devoted to schools and levels of student achievement, and to guide efforts to adequately fund Oregon schools. 

The work of the commission, which meets once a month, includes evaluating educational best practices and determining the level of funding needed for Oregon students to reach education standards set by the state.

Dr. Hamann has been a statewide advocate for innovation-based reforms to increase college completion rates while reducing cost per completion. The goal is to create more opportunity for Oregonians to gain skills to contribute to and benefit from the state’s economic vitality.

Based on the QEM, the commission has determined that Oregon needs state funding of approximately $8.76 billion to fully fund the state’s schools for 2013-15. This is an increase of more than $2.4 billion over current funding levels.

The commission’s findings are presented in a biennial report to the state legislature for update and improvement to the Quality Education Model.