Pictured from left to right are: Dr. Jim Catanzaro – President, Chattanooga State; Rebecca Balch – Department Head of Engineering Systems Technology and Director of the Wacker Institute; Dr. George Smith – Chief of Staff, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, United States Department of Education; Dr. Johan Uvin – Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE); Dr. Erika Burk – Director of Human Resources at Wacker Polysilicon’s Bradley County plant; Dr. Jim Barrott – Vice President for Technology, Chattanooga State; Tim McGhee – Dean of Engineering Technology, Chattanooga State.
Dr. Johan E. Uvin, acting assistant secretary in the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE), visited the Wacker Institute on the campus of Chattanooga State Community College on Tuesday, September 9. The OCTAE administers and coordinates programs that are related to adult education and literacy, career and technical education, and community colleges.
Tim McGhee, dean of the Engineering Technology Division led the tour.
As he explained the functions of each laboratory in the chemical engineering technology program, he pointed out the types of technology used in teaching students who are preparing for a career in chemical manufacturing. The visit culminated with a tour of the state-of-the-art Wacker Institute chemical training plant.
The Wacker Institute programs include four principle areas of study: process technician or chemical operator, chemical lab technician or analytics, mechanical systems technician and electronics and instrumentation technician.