FORSYTH TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (FORSYTH TECH)
MANUFACTURING-RELATED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
General College Description: Forsyth Technical Community College is a comprehensive
community college serving the citizens of Forsyth and Stokes counties. It offers a wide array of
programs and services at its main campus in Winston-Salem and its 9 other campus locations.
Forsyth Tech aims to provide students with exceptional technical education and training, as well
as college transfer, adult basic education, and continuing corporate education programs to
develop a globally competitive workforce. It offers 67 Associate in Applies Science Degrees, 35
diploma programs, 67 certificate programs, 20 college transfer degrees and a host of other
programs including Business and Industry Training, Literacy Education and English for Speakers
of other Languages (ESL), Distance Learning Opportunities, and Vocational and Technical
Training. See www.forsythtech.edu.
Manufacturing-Related Program Areas: Forsyth Tech offers a variety of manufacturingrelated programs that span several Departments. The college offers Associate Degree, Diploma
and Certificate options and graduates approximately 1,050 students each year. Click on the links
below to learn more:
 Construction and Manufacturing Technologies: http://www.forsythtech.edu/courses/credittrack/construction--manufacturing .
 Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology – Diploma, Certificate
 Electrical/Electronics Technology – Diploma, Certificate
 Industrial Systems Technology – Degree (AAS), Diploma, Certificate
 Machining Technology – Diploma, Certificate
 Plumbing – Diploma, Certificate
 Welding Technology – Diploma, Certificate
 Engineering Technologies: http://www.forsythtech.edu/courses/credit-track/engineeringtechnologies .
 Electronics Engineering Technology – Degree (AAS), Certificate (CAD)
 Mechanical Engineering Technology- Degree (AAS), Certificate
 Emerging Technologies: http://www.forsythtech.edu/courses/credit-track/emergingtechnologies
 Nanotechnology – Degree (AAS)
 Biotechnology - Degree (AAS)
 General Occupational Technology: http://www.forsythtech.edu/courses/credit-track/otherprograms/general-occupational-technology. The General Occupational Technology
curriculum provides individuals with an opportunity to upgrade skills and to earn an associate
degree, diploma, and/or certificate by taking courses suited for individual occupational
interests and/or needs. The curriculum content is customized for students according to
occupational interests and needs. A program of study for each student is selected from any
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non-developmental level courses offered by the College. Graduates become more effective
workers, better qualified for advancements within their field of employment, and become
qualified for a wide range of entry-level employment opportunities.
The college also offers Developmental Education for students who, on the basis of test results
and past performance, do not qualify for immediate admission to their chosen program of study.
Students who meet the minimum entrance requirements, but whose previous academic records
indicate that they may have difficulty in successfully completing their programs are also advised
in the completion of their necessary course work in the Developmental Education program.
Special partnerships with high schools and four-year schools: Forsyth Tech offers College in
High School programs which allow high school students to earn free college credits to give them
a head start on their college career.
 Dual Enrollment classes are available in math, science, technical (or career-oriented) courses
and count for both high school and college credits in Forsyth and Stokes Counties
(http://www.forsythtech.edu/courses/college-in-high-school/dual-enrollment). Stokes College
Academy is a Dual Enrollment program for Stokes County students, allowing students to take
Forsyth Tech college courses on their high school campus, online, via Interactive TV, or Learn
and Earn and earn free college credits. We have had high schools students participate in Air
Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration, Machining Technology, Plumbing, Welding
Technology, Nanotechnology and Industrial Systems Technology. We have a partnership with
the Atkins Technology High Schools three Academies which include: Biotechnology
Academy, Engineering Academy and Business Information Technology. Students take
Forsyth Tech courses as part of these Academies their senior year. The college actively
recruits students for all of the Manufacturing-Related program areas. We are adding a drafting
course for the students in the Engineering Academy this coming year.
 The Educational Partnerships division creates and supports Articulated (Advanced Standing)
Courses, which allow students to earn advanced standing credit at Forsyth Tech or any North
Carolina community college. The Tech Prep program allows the opportunities for granting of
credit at the college. In this list of 120 courses there are 14 courses articulated with the two
public school systems we serve that are in one of the identified Manufacturing-Related
Program areas, i.e. ELC 111 Introduction to Electricity and WLD 115 SMAW (Stick) Plate.
 Forsyth Tech also participates in the North Carolina Learn and Earn on-line program where
high school students can take college level classes on-line. Students are admitted through the
Educational Partnerships office and must meet the prerequisites for the classes they request. If
a student wanted to complete the General Education Courses for the programs most all of these
are offered on line and could be completed in high school before entering the hands-on core
courses of the identified manufacturing programs. Chemistry, Math and English requirements
are examples.
 Forsyth Middle College is a high school on the Forsyth Tech campus that focuses on
individualized study and offers both regular high school and Dual Enrollment courses for
juniors and seniors enrolled in this Forsyth County high school. Forsyth Middle College is a
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collaborative project of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and Forsyth Technical
Community College (http://www.forsythtech.edu/courses/college-in-high-school/middlecollege-program). For more information, see the Forsyth Middle College website at
http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/education/school/school.php?sectionid=2412. Students have enrolled
in the identified manufacturing programs in the morning while they completed high school in
the afternoon. This has been beneficial to the students and often was the “carrot” that kept
them in high school and got them graduated. The college actively promotes this option to
these 100 students.
 Early College of Forsyth is a 9-12 high school on the Forsyth Tech campus with an accelerated
academic program that allows students to earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree
at the same time (http://www.forsythtech.edu/courses/college-in-high-school/early-collegeprogram). As part of their program of study when they reach the 11 grade students can choose
to enroll in any of the identified manufacturing programs. Career information on the
manufacturing programs is offered to all Early College students.
 Stokes County Early College is a 9-12 high school located in Stokes County with an
accelerated academic program that allows students to earn a high school diploma and an
associate’s degree at the same time. This program is supported by a five year grant from the
New Schools Project. (http://www.earlycollege.stokes.k12.nc.us). These students may also
take courses during their junior and senior years in the identified manufacturing programs.
Students are offered career information on these curriculum programs.
 Forsyth Tech has 20 Instructional Service Agreements which jointly offer a curriculum
program between Forsyth and another community college. Students can take courses in a
program of study and earn a degree, diploma, or a certificate from the home institution. Of the
20 agreements 9 are in Biotechnology and 1 is in Nanotechnology.
Faculty Expertise/Specialized Knowledge/Skills
The Manufacturing-related program departments employ instructors who are subject matter
experts in all specialized fields. Both regular and adjunct faculty members have significant
industry experience in their specific fields and hold advanced industry certifications, and are
supported in additional professional development opportunities. The college employs
professionals in the areas of machining and computer numerical control, welding, industrial
systems technology, electrical and mechanical engineering, drafting, and computer-aided design.
Additionally, faculty members are all highly experienced in the technical education of adults and
possess a diverse knowledge of the manufacturing-related fields.
Specialized Facilities/Equipment
Forsyth Tech’s manufacturing-related facilities are all equipped with modern equipment and
classrooms equipped with many computer workstations. The cost to equip these five areas
exceeded 1.8 million dollars. The college’s welding facilities are equipped with state of the art
presses, sheers, testing equipment, welders, and a waterjet cutter. The machine shop has CNC
lathes, milling machine, and trainers. The college also has conventional machine shop
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equipment such as engine lathes, vertical milling machines, and surface grinders, as well as
industrial process training equipment, machine tools, and testing equipment in our industrial
Industrial Systems Lab. The Mechanical Engineering Technology lab is aligned with advanced
industry standards and practices. No drafting boards here! Students learn and work with state-ofthe-art design and prototyping software and equipment. The electronics engineering facilities are
filled with the equipment necessary to earn accreditation by the Accrediting Body for
Engineering Technology (ABET). This equipment includes oscilloscopes, curve tracers,
spectrum analyzers, and a programmer prom.
Contract Training Capabilities:
As part of Forsyth Tech’s commitment to support local economic development efforts, the college
offers customized assessment and training services to assist local manufacturing employers
compete successfully in the global marketplace. See: www.forsythtech.edu/businesscommunity.
Forsyth Tech works with businesses to assess their business environment, staff and current
situation to make certain the training options are tailored to meet their training needs. The
college works in partnership with area manufacturers to develop specialized training and can
arrange on-site instruction of employees in such established disciplines as Lean, Six Sigma,
leadership and customer service.
Forsyth Tech also offers Focused Industry Training (FIT), a specialized program for North
Carolina's manufacturing industries. FIT uses individualized needs assessments and
consultations to design and implement targeted, customized training for organizations which
need to upgrade workers' skills because of technological or process advances. Examples include
Advanced Industrial Training with Kobe Wieland Copper Products and lean manufacturing
training done with DAC Products.
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