The trades are changing, and so is Madison College, as it officially unveiled its new building for its year-long construction and remodeling program at its Truax Campus Nov. 19.
The new $10.3 million, 30,000-square-foot building greatly increases Madison College’s ability to meet a rising demand in trades. Interest in trades has continued to grow, especially in its construction and remodeling program, as more students want to work with their hands, said John Stephany, co-program director and instructor at Madison College. Its new space will allow for a higher capacity of students, more workspace and the implementation of a night school option in the next academic year.
“Before this, we were over at Commercial Avenue, and we had one big space. All this was done outside, and it was not ideal,” Stephany said as he pointed to a tiny house and sheds being built. “Our numbers are through the roof. We have a waiting list, and we’ve had a waiting list the last couple of years.”
The previous building on Commercial Avenue had multiple issues. Rogers Senteza, the only student currently in the program to experience both buildings, and Stephany noted the cramped feeling with their backs literally against the wall as they worked on projects.
Additionally, the bad weather, cold and the unpredictable Wisconsin winters were also a consistent issue for students in the program at the old space. Much of the work being done in the new building had to be done outdoors in the previous one.
Bad weather and the cold caused a 10-day loss of learning in the program last year, Stephany said.
“When it’s cold outside, and we have to work, they’re not learning. They’re out there in the cold working, but they’re not able to learn. They’re barely able to keep warm,” he said.
(Photo by Omar Waheed.)
Stepany notes some criticism from potential employers regarding students, who are concerned about having a new learning environment that is completely indoors. However, financial barriers for students mean that not everyone can obtain the necessary warm layers for a career in the trades.
“We have an increase in students coming from a lower-income situation. So when we’re like, ‘We’re gonna be working outside. You need to have additional layers of clothing. And they’re like, ‘I don’t know where my food is coming from tomorrow. I can’t go out and buy $150 worth of warm weather clothing,’” Stephany said.
Despite some light criticisms about avoiding the cold while learning, Stephany is hopeful about how the new space can also meet what employers are looking for in students.
He hopes to gather feedback from the community and employers to implement additional changes in courses because the drastically larger space allows for it.
Changes in the trades
There has been a shift in who makes up trades programs at Madison College. From his first year to now, Stephany says the makeup of classes is wildly different.
Stephany started at Madison College 18 years ago. Back then, he would only see young white men being enrolled in trades programs — now he sees a mix of everyone.
“You’re seeing a lot of diversity, and it needs it. The trades are too white and too male. We need workers,” Stepahny said.
Students like Jaijot Seerha and Senteza have found the construction and remodeling programs to be perfect fits for them.
Seerha is in his first semester in the program, as the first cohort has only been in the new building. His interest in the program stems from helping his dad around the house and his uncle, who is a machinist.
(Photo by Omar Waheed)
“I came into this because… I’d have a blast. It’s actually been really fun,” Seerha said. “It’s probably like the most perfect fit for me because I’ve never really been super big on traditional schooling.”
He hopes to start his own residential carpentry business after he graduates.
Senteza, who was a featured speaker for the building’s grand unveiling, will graduate from the program this coming December. He comes from Uganda and had an interest in accounting initially, but wanted to find something to do with his hands.
“I needed to do something that was very helpful. At the moment, I didn’t know exactly what that was when I went into campus,” Senteza said.
He initially started part-time in the program. When he moved to full-time, he realized that he had much more time than he had planned. Senteza was able to secure a job with Tony Trapp Remodeling — an employer known for its support and hiring of Madison College graduates.
