Through hands-on and interactive learning experiences, Middlesex Community College sets students up for long-term success. With funding from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the college’s engineering department established a Printed Circuit Boarding (PCB) lab in Henderson Hall on the Bedford campus.
“Working in the new PCB lab and with the 3D printers has been incredibly inspiring and empowering,” said Cortney Schultz-Corson, an MCC Computer Aided Design (CAD) engineering student, of Lexington. “Having access to this level of professional equipment has completely elevated what we’re able to accomplish as students. It feels like we’ve been given the tools to bring any idea to life, no matter how complex or ambitious. Being able to see a concept move from the screen to a functioning object in real time has given me a much stronger understanding of engineering processes and real-world application.”
In the lab, Schultz-Corson and classmates – including Victor Salomon, an MCC CAD engineering student, of Acton – learn new concepts and techniques, including creating prototypes of their projects. Once complete, the students send their designs out for manufacturing. When the boards are returned, they solder components and test their projects for functionality.
Both Schultz-Corson and Salomon are grateful to their professors for their support and for making these types of opportunities possible. Combined with MCC’s small class sizes and supportive professors, these experiences have increased their creativity and confidence pursuing the field.
“Their dedication to the program and to student success is what has brought these incredible upgrades to life,” Salomon said. “The new equipment is fast, reliable, and gives us the ability to bring our designs to life with a level of precision and speed that we didn’t have before. It’s one thing to understand design and manufacturing concepts in theory – but being able to actually prototype, fabricate and troubleshoot your designs gives you a much deeper understanding.”
In the Solid Modeling class, Middlesex students access 3D printers to print their parts, test their designs, and make any necessary changes. This allows students to refine and improve their designs, according to Angel Escalona, MCC’s Assistant Professor of Engineering. Faced with an ever-changing industry, Escalona believes MCC’s program is prepared to close the gap students face when graduating from college and starting a job.
“We’ve found that students are more engaged and excited when they see their designs come to life,” Escalona said. “They work hard to make their projects succeed, experience a range of emotions throughout the process, and ultimately feel a strong sense of accomplishment when their work pays off. This hands-on, project-based approach has proven to be highly effective in helping students grasp and retain course content.”
MCC’s program supports students pursuing the fields of electrical, mechanical and civil engineering. Escalona and Cristopher Algarra, MCC’s Department Chair and Professor of Engineering, recognized the need to offer more hands-on experiences. They also worked to develop new courses, stackable industry credentials, and a clear pathway for students to enter the workforce.
“Students respond better to learning new software skills when they have the opportunity to apply them to real-world projects,” Algarra said. “By showcasing our state-of-the-art equipment and the industry-recognized skills we teach, we’re helping to evolve the local workforce through the preparation of highly capable students from MCC. We serve as a solution for both employers seeking skilled talent and for students striving for a better quality of life. We are proving that engineering is not only possible at a community college, but also thriving.”