Mesabi Range College—Welding

AWS Educational Institution Member

AWS Accredited Welding Education

AWS Educational Institution Member for Entry Level Welder and Advanced Welder

 

AWS Accredited Test Facility

 

Instructors are AWS Certified Welding Inspectors and Certified Welding Educators

 

AWS Arrowhead Section Library on site

About Us

                 For 35 years, Mr. Jack Heikkinen taught Welding Combination and Welding Fabrication, two one-year programs that graduated 500+ welders over those years. Many of those graduates went on to successful careers in the field of welding.

                 In 1997, Tom Baldwin and Ray Leiviska were hired to replace a retiring Mr. Heikkinen. The enrollment was nearly doubled for a couple of years and an extra instructor was needed to provide a quality education to more students.

                 During that same time frame, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities were discussing ways to make technical education more efficient. ‘Centers of Excellence’ was the newest idea. That involved fewer program duplications within geographical proximity to each other. This caused some welding programs to close or severely down-size. The instructors at Mesabi Range College decided that their programs were to become one of those ‘Centers of Excellence.’

                 In 1998, Doug Mroz was hired to help handle the growing enrollment. Between the three instructors, they decided to incorporate the American Welding Society/National Skills Standards into their curriculum. The entire program was rewritten and upgraded to meet the increased needs of construction unions and fabricators in a world market.

                 Currently, successful students engage in a rigorous curriculum that is designed to provide them with excellent skills upon graduation to enter the workforce. 

                 The Entry Level Welding Program is a 32 credit, 2 semester program with a diploma for the successful student graduate. One or two welder certifications may be available.

                 The Advanced Level Welding Program is a 64 credit, 4 semester program (including the ELW Program) that is optional upon completion of the Entry Level Program. Its successful completion gives the graduate another diploma. Several more welder certifications are available.

                 The typical Mesabi Range College Welding Program student applicant has had some experience with welding and cutting. However, students that have never welded before have successfully completed this program and have gone on to become certified welders.

                 Some of the places that successful graduates have gone to work are: USX MinnTac, Virginia, MN; Inland Steel Minorca Mine, Virginia, MN; L & M Radiator, Hibbing, MN; Electric Power Door, Hibbing, MN; Furin & Shea, Hibbing, MN; ASV, Grand Rapids, MN; Serco Loaders, Two Harbors Machine, Two Harbors, MN; Stanley/LaBounty, Two Harbors, MN; Savage Trailers, Angora, MN; Boilermakers Local Union; Millwrights Local Union, Virginia, MN; Ironworkers Local Union, Minneapolis, MN; and many places in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area and the surrounding suburbs. Some have gone out-of-state and a few have even gone overseas.

                 Some of the jobs the graduates have are: welder, fitter, welder helper, weld shop supervisor, welder/lead-man, welding apprentice trainer, boilermaker, pipefitter, welding robot operator, sheet metal worker, millwright/welder, quality assurance manager, welding inspector, plant superintendent, welding business owner and more.

MN In-State Toll Free: 800. 657-3860

Main Switchboard: 218. 741-3095

Welding Phone: 218.744-7510

Fax: 218.744-7466

E-mail: t.baldwin@mr.mnscu.edu

Eveleth Campus:

American Welding Society Educational Institution Member

 

American Welding Society Accredited Test Facility