News Services

Ferris Brings Home Bronze at SkillsUSA National Competition

BIG RAPIDS – The Ferris State University Automated Manufacturing team of Josh Ferris (Ionia), Frank Kruger (Bailey) and James Wolf (Iron River) took home the bronze medal at the 45th National Leadership and Skills Conference and SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Mo., on June 26.

Other Ferris students competing were Jon Vance (Pinconning) taking fourth in Technical Drafting, Kyle Busse (McHenry, Ill.) placing seventh in Graphic Communications and Shane Wilcome (Mount Pleasant) receiving an honorable mention in Diesel Equipment Technology. In order to qualify for the national competition, the six students received gold medals at state competitions.

[more...] 02 July 2009

Ferris Orientation Welcomes More Than 2,000 Students to Campus

BIG RAPIDS – Summertime injects new life into Ferris State University’s campus thanks to new-student orientation which brings approximately 2,100 students over a 16-day period.

Ferris is rolling out the red carpet as it welcomes students, families and friends for a detailed introduction to what the University has to offer. Orientation day is a busy one for students and parents as their day begins early (7:30 a.m.) and ends at 2 p.m.

“Our goal, with orientation, is to do everything we can to make sure students are having a smooth transition to Ferris. We also make sure we’re taking care of parents who have their own questions that we want to be sure to address,” said Leroy Wright, dean of Student Life at Ferris. “Orientation is a big process. One of the great things about orientation is it brings the entire community together as we all work to make orientation successful and smooth for our students and their families.”

[more...] 19 June 2009

Welding Engineering Technology Program Expands to Meet Needs

BIG RAPIDS – Most students start their college programs in September or January; Ferris State University’s Welding Engineering Technology program has introduced May as another option.

In 2005 the admission standards for Ferris’ Welding programs were increased. In turn, so did the demand for the programs. As the number of Ferris’ Welding Technology associate degree students increased, so has the Welding Engineering Technology admissions – reducing the number of community college and other transfer students allowed into the program.

Welding professor Dave Murray approached the welding faculty in Fall 2008 to open a summer session to meet the needs of the transfer students. The department formulated an academic plan and presented it to the College of Engineering Technology leadership in January 2009. Once approved in late March, the new session was filled within two weeks, said Jeff Carney, professor and department chair of Welding Engineering Technology.

[more...]18 June 2009