Collaboration is more than just a buzzword; it’s the key to innovation and meaningful learning. SPC’s Trade and Technology and STEM programs have demonstrated this by partnering with industry leaders and academic institutions to provide hands-on experiences that prepare students for the future. This commitment was recently recognized with the “Innovative Partnering and Collaboration” award at the MnState Academic and Student Affairs (ASA) annual conference this past October.

This award-winning initiative, submitted by Dr. Jacob Swanson from Minnesota State University, Mankato, highlights a partnership between SPC’s Trades & Technical programs, SPC STEM programs, and Twin Cities Engineering (TCE), an extension of Minnesota State University, Mankato. This collaboration has been three years in the making, producing experiential engineering projects that bridge classroom theory with industry practice. According to SPC Trade and Technical Dean, V.A. Hayman Barber, this achievement not only elevates SPC’s credibility but also inspires students by showing a clear pathway to advanced degrees, right on their home campus.

Why Collaboration Matters to SPC Students:

• Real-World Impact: Students don’t just learn; they build, test, and innovate alongside professionals.
• Expanded Pathways: Partnerships enable students to smoothly transfer from associate programs to bachelor’s degrees without leaving SPC.
• Industry-Relevant Skills: Hands-on innovative projects provide students with practical experience in design optimization, cost reduction, and data-driven diagnostics.
• Confidence & Career Readiness: Through the support of this team of professionals, students gain the skills and confidence to succeed in competitive fields and make a positive impact in the world.

The “Twin Cities Engineering” program, offered by the Department of Integrated Engineering at Minnesota State University, Mankato, provides a BS in Engineering in partnership with metro-area community colleges. This partnership at SPC has expanded to include numerous distinct and diverse partners (described in more detail below), and these collaborations have led to exciting and high-impact educational outcomes for students that would not have been achievable otherwise. For students interested in a STEM degree with the opportunity to focus on an emerging area, the Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT) degree enables a seamless transition from the lower-division SPC technology program to an upper-division MSU Mankato BS degree program.  

We are extremely grateful for this partnership with SPC. Our collaborations with trade areas that are adjacent to engineering (such as toolmaking or diesel engine technology) provide students with meaningful interdisciplinary learning opportunities while enabling them to complete a potent, rigorous four-year engineering degree on their home campus.

Dr. Jacob Swanson

Chair and Professor, Department of Integrated Engineering Minnesota State University, Mankato

Numerous exciting projects have already emerged from this collaboration.

CNC Toolmaking

Students from all partner organizations have participated in the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge for the past three years. Through these expanded connections, students were able to refine vehicle designs, making parts more repeatable and easier to manufacture while maintaining structural integrity. Working closely with fabricators allowed students to make minor design adjustments to non-critical geometries, providing better insights to reduce tool changes, the number of process steps, and the overall cost of part production.

Truck Technician

Students collaborated to upgrade the Truck Technician Program’s dynamometer (dyno) system, resulting in smoother, safer, and more precise testing for both students and staff. These enhancements make the dyno a more reliable, data-driven training resource, improving hands-on learning and better preparing future truck technicians for real-world diagnostics.

SPC Engineering Program

This partnership expands engineering opportunities for pre-engineering students, enabling SPC students to progress from a lower-division to an upper-division program to earn a BS in Engineering without leaving their “home” campus.

Science and Engineering Technology Program

The program provides a pathway for lower-division students to earn a BS degree, called the “ISAT” or Integrated Science and Technology degree, without leaving their local campus. The ISAT degree enables students to transition smoothly from the lower-division Science and Engineering Technology A.S. program to an upper-division B.S. program. Additionally, SPC co-hosts an annual campus-wide Science and Engineering Showcase in collaboration with Twin Cities Engineering and MinnPoly, providing students from various disciplines with the opportunity to share their work in a collaborative and open setting.

This award-winning collection of partnerships shows how their combined impact exceeds the sum of individual efforts. More projects in this area are planned for future students!