By Julian Hayden

MILFORD – In order to meet federal guidelines from the Higher Learning Commission, the Nondestructive Technology Testing program (NDT), like many other programs, will be reducing the number credit hours required for an Associate Degree.
Higher Learning Commission guidelines require that all associate degrees require no more than 75 semester hours.
NDT, which is on the Milford campus, is currently at 97 semester hours (or 114.5 quarter credit hours) and is in the process of establishing a plan to meet those requirements, said Program Chair Randy Walbridge.
“There will be a realignment of classes, and some classes are going to be removed,” said Walbridge.
One example of the adjustments is that “Computer Applications and NDT is going to be combined with Ultrasonics 2,” said Walbridge.
But the specifics of the restructuring plan, which will be implemented in the 2018 – 2019 school year, have not been finalized.
Despite the restructuring, the goal of this program is still going to stay the same.
“The goal is still to produce a high quality graduate,” said Walbridge.
Walbridge also hopes that there will be no effects on students because of the restructuring.
Since its creation, the NDT Program has been teaching students how to properly examine structures and components using nondestructive technology.
The diversity of the practices in the nondestructive technology field is what Walbridge likes most about the program.
On a regular school day, students take both lab classes and theory classes and learn about subjects like advanced ultrasonics and immersion inspection theory, but that is only a small part of what students do, Walbridge said.
The program has a more than 95 percent placement rate, which means that more than 95 percent of graduates found a job in the industry or continued with their education.
Past graduates have found employment all over the country at businesses like Phoenix National, Parker Hannifin and Olsson Associates.
Nondestructive technology is an area that Walbridge said has a lot of opportunity and a tremendous need for graduates.
“We can’t even come close to meeting the industry demand,” said Walbridge.