Looking to improve your electromechanical training program with industry-relevant programming, hands-on training, and cutting-edge equipment? Saint Paul College in St. Paul, Minnesota, is setting the standard for what technical education can achieve.
From flexible curriculum design to state-of-the-art Amatrol training systems, this program is empowering working students and meeting local industry demands. Here’s how they did it—and what you can learn from their success.
Saint Paul College’s Electromechanical Systems program serves a unique student body. Unlike traditional programs filled with recent high school graduates, this one has a large population of working adults. Most are over 25, juggle family responsibilities, and are looking for a way to move their career forward.
“Our students are already working full-time,” explains VA Hayman Barber, Dean of Trade and Tech. “They’re looking for promotion, looking for advancement.”
The college is located in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. The Minneapolis region is home to a wide range of industries—from manufacturing giants like 3M and Boston Scientific to specialized firms in medical and food production. Employers need graduates with broad-based skills, capable of adapting to various roles.
“They want someone who knows a little bit of everything,” says Dr. Travis Schachtner, the program’s lead instructor. “Employers are demanding an associate’s degree for mechanical technicians to move into leadership roles.”
Meeting these demands required a program that’s flexible, industry-aligned, and rich with hands-on learning opportunities.
Saint Paul College built a program that aligns perfectly with these needs, combining flexible learning methods, modern programming tools, and industrial-grade training equipment.
The program spans three semesters, covering:
Each semester offers standalone certifications, allowing students to learn at their own pace while meeting employer needs for specific skills.
Saint Paul College uses Amatrol’s eLearning platform to deliver core content online. This allows students to work through lessons on their schedule, a key benefit for working professionals.
“The eLearning is seamless,” says Dr. Schachtner. “The online material aligns perfectly with the hands-on labs. Students can choose to read first or jump into the equipment—whatever works best for their learning style.”
With voice support and a Spanish library available, Amatrol’s eLearning is designed to meet the needs of any learner. For a diverse college like Saint Paul, this is a huge benefit.
Schools can choose from over 300 courses and 3,000+ hours of curriculum content. Instructors can leverage turn-key curriculum programming, or develop their own custom courses that align to their course curriculum. Embedded in the multi-media eLearning are tools like pre- and post-quizzes, knowledge checks, and virtual trainers. The idea is to take the student from theory into hands-on practice seamlessly.
That’s exactly what Saint Paul College has done. “When set up properly, like with what we have for AC/DC, [eLearning and hands-on training] bleed right into each other,” Shachtner adds.
Amatrol trainers are at the heart of Saint Paul College’s hands-on labs. These systems feature off-the-shelf industrial components, providing students with real-world experience before they ever step into a factory. Built into the trainers, you’ll see components from brands like Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Baldor, Baluff, Honeywell, FANUC, Johnson Controls, Parker, Rhino, SICK, Schneider Electric, SMC, Starrett, Endress+Hauser, and many more.
“These are the exact components students will encounter in the field,” explains Dr. Schachtner. “The only difference might be size.”
The trainers are also designed for teaching, featuring see-through components like directional control valves to help students understand system operations. This combination of real-world relevance and educational design builds confidence in learners—a quality employers immediately notice.
Saint Paul College’s electromechanical program curriculum is delivering impressive results for students and employers alike. Graduates leave with a deep knowledge base and the hands-on skills to hit the ground running.
“I’ve had many students who have done things that I never would have guessed,” shares Shachtner. “I’ve had a student that helped establish a way to process water in his home country and then train people in how to maintain the equipment.”
Employers are equally impressed. “They love that our students come out with a solid knowledge base,” Dr. Schachtner says. “It helps them get to work quickly and independently.”
And the career mobility the students are after? They’re getting that, too. “They really are ready for a career path that creates economic and social mobility for their lives and their families,” adds Barber.
VA sees the program’s success as part of a larger movement. “The trades right now, not only in the state of Minnesota, but in the country, are getting wonderful press. There’s a lot of energy, there’s a lot of momentum, there’s a lot of funding, and I think that is creating a ripple effect for us.”
Saint Paul College’s Electromechanical Systems program offers valuable lessons for educators looking to enhance their own curriculum:
A program like this is crucial in this age of lifelong learning. As Dr. Schachtner puts it, “that broad-based knowledge comes with the confidence of, I may not know it now, but I am willing to learn it. And in a field like electromechanical or industrial maintenance, it’s a field where you’ve dedicated yourself, whether you wanted to or not, to becoming a lifelong learner, because you’re working with technology, and technology is constantly changing.”
For instructors seeking to improve their electromechanical programs, Saint Paul College offers a proven blueprint for success. By addressing industry needs, supporting students with flexible options, and investing in top-tier training equipment, they’re transforming lives—and preparing the workforce of tomorrow.
