Intense industry demand has prompted South Central College to create a new program, one that will be the first of its kind in Minnesota.

It’s called “mechatronics,” and SCC has tapped alumnus and former V-Tek president Doug Laven to head up the program.

The mechatronics program — set to launch fall semester 2009 — will prepare students for a sort of hybrid career. They will be experts in mechanics and electronics, and will be able to perform the maintenance jobs of two workers.

Businesses typically will use one worker trained in mechanics to service equipment, and another trained in electronics to service the devices that test and monitor that equipment. A mechatronics graduate will be trained in both areas.

A group of area businesses believe so strongly in the idea that they approached the college and encouraged SCC officials to start up a program. The group has also collectively given SCC about $150,000 to get things started.

That money — together with a $52,000 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities grant, $80,000 in cash from the Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence, and $50,000 of in-kind services from industry partners — will allow SCC to begin training students in about a year.

“Technical colleges typically can respond quickly,” SCC President Keith Stover said.

Laven and others are developing the program’s curriculum, which will feature heavily the use emerging technology and computer software. Laven said the program will also have classes available online, an area where SCC has been very active.

“The support we’ve been getting has been overwhelming,” said Suzanne Nordblom, SCC’s Dean of Engineering and Construction Technology. “And the word’s getting out, all over the state, all over the U.S.”

Area businesses are eager to get mechatronics-trained graduates in their buildings. Among them is the Dotson Co, where plant and metallurgical engineer Eric Nelson says the workers can’t get there fast enough.

“We’re moving into an automated world so quickly that we need people that can pull it all together,” Nelson said. “Good maintenance techs are one of the most difficult resources for us to find — it’s not the easiest job in the world.”

Nelson says he hopes the new mechatronics program can be used to train current employees, as well.

“New grads aren’t going to come quick enough and there won’t be enough of them,” he said.

For Laven, it’ll be his second stint teaching at SCC. He’s happy to be back and ready to get the program up and running.

Being in the industry for 17 years, he said, gives him an advantage.