In 2012, Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota State Legislature approved capital funding for Phase I of the Transportation & Emerging Technologies Renovation Project on Dakota County Technical College's main campus in Rosemount, Minn. The DCTC community wishes to thank legislators, public officials, area residents and the people of Minnesota for supporting this project, which is a vital step in helping reach the goals set forward in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Strategic Framework. Those goals place Minnesota citizens, communities and businesses at the top of Minnesota State’s list of priorities.
The following commitments define the Strategic Framework for the system’s 24 two-year colleges and seven state universities:
Ensure access to an extraordinary education for all Minnesotans.
Be the partner of choice to meet Minnesota’s workforce and community needs.
Deliver to students, employers, communities and taxpayers the highest value and most affordable option.
DCTC is request $7.59 million to complete Phase II of the project. Renovation projects of this magnitude are planned in phases to reduce the disruptive impact on classroom and lab space operations.
Phase I Renovation Timeline
February to early April 2013: TKDA oversees project's bidding process
End of March to early April 2013: Bidding award period
Late August 2013 (start of fall semester): Major renovation completed
Bonding project at a glance
Renovating 118,000 square feet of classroom, lab and shop space used by students and faculty in the college's Transportation and Technical Careers academic program areas.
$7.23 million in state funding was received in 2012 for Phase I of the project.
$6.9 million will be requested in 2014 to fund Phase II of the project.
Renovation project eliminates more than $3.5 million in deferred maintenance.
Current classroom, lab and shop areas for programs in DCTC's Transportation and Technical Careers departments require extensive renovation to increase space utilization efficiencies and eliminate redundancies in specialized equipment while modernizing and improving workspaces for students.
Impact on classrooms and college
118,000 square feet of space will be right-sized, reorganized and modernized for the first time since 1973
Improvements will slash the college's Facilities Condition Index from .29 to .22 while reducing energy consumption by 20–30 percent
Common instructional spaces will be created for use by multiple programs, eliminating redundancies in specialized equipment needs while improving space utilization efficiency
Impact on workforce
85 percent of all new jobs created in the decade after the recession formally ended will require postsecondary education (The Most Competitive Workforce in the World, Governor's Workforce Development Council, January 2013)
The average growth rate of all jobs by 2020 is just 14 percent while high-growth jobs requiring an associate’s degree will grow by an average of 35 percent. (Forbes, December 2012)
STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17 percent from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8 percent growth for non-STEM occupations. (U.S. Department of Commerce, July 2011)
In terms of emerging technologies, clean-energy investments create about 16.7 jobs for every $1 million in spending; spending on fossil fuels, by contrast, generates 5.3 jobs per $1 million in spending. (Center for American Progress, June 2009)
DCTC has a long history of partnering with state and national leaders in business and industry to provide skilled workers and relevant curriculum.
More than 95 percent of graduates from DCTC's Transportation and Technical Careers programs find employment in their field of study within six months of graduation.
The trade, transportation and utilities sectors in Minnesota will experience 10.7 percent growth between 2010 and 2020, adding 52,275 jobs. (DEED Employment Outlook, June 2012)
The annual median income for transportation and technical occupations is approximately $47,000.
Career Field
Projected Growth 2010–2020*
Median Hourly Wage*
Transportation Careers
Automotive Service Technician
12.2%
$20.42
Diesel Engine and Truck Repair
11.6%
$23.22
Heavy Equipment Repair
12.3%
$26.15
Emerging Technologies Careers
Nanoscience Technician
8.5%
$38.23
Biomedical Equipment Technician
26%
$27.29
Civil Engineering Technician
7.6%
$29.25
Technical Careers
Electrical Lineworker
22.9%
$34.14
Electrician
35.8%
$32.85
Welder
12.4%
$20.74
* Data retrieved from CAREERwise Education Jan. 15, 2013, for seven-county Minneapolis/St. Paul area
Transportation & Emerging Technologies Project Tour
1. Automotive Technician Area
70 percent of project consists of low-visibility upgrades (electrical, mechanical, air quality)
Need for multipurpose classrooms shared by like programs to eliminate redundancies
2. Parts Counter
Used by all Transportation programs, the parts counter is currently landlocked
3. GM ASEP & Welding Technology Areas
Welding Tech area is currently landlocked
GM ASEP program routinely interrupted by welding student projects and vice versa
Prevailing air quality and safety issues
4. Welding Technology Area
Program area will be relocated to outside perimeter of college
Antiquated air ducts need replacing
Prevailing air quality and safety issues
5. Auto Body Collision Technology Area 1
Antiquated paint booths will be replaced with industry-standard waterborne paint booths
6. Auto Body Collision Technology Area 2
Reaching first floor from second floor requires entering ABCT area, which presents safety and security issues
Bonding project will enclose staircase
7. Heavy Construction Equipment Technology Area
Area requires exhaust, mechanical and electrical upgrades
Improved lab space will eliminate redundancies and create flexible space
8. Heavy Duty Truck Technology Area
Bonding project will open up spaces for improved equipment and facilities sharing
Feeder high schools have far more modern facilities
Larger classroom space needed to accommodate 24 students
Archaic ventilation system needs replacing
9. Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology Area
Needs renovation to allow handicapped access to second floor
10. Nanoscience Technology Area
STEM-related lab space needs expansion to twice current size to accommodate Nanoscience Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology and Civil Engineering Technology programs
11. GM Raytheon Training Center
Model of modernity for DCTC Transportation department program areas
Renovation Map
The image below shows the 118,000 square feet proposed for renovation project.
For more information about the Transportation & Emerging Technologies Bonding Project, contact:
Mike Opp
Dean of Transportation and Technical Careers
651-423-8232
Mike Opp
