Highlands College Machining Students Pass NIMS Test

Highlands College is excited to announce that 23 machining students have passed the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Measurements, Materials and Safety Test for the fall semester. NIMS was formed in 1995 by the metalworking trade associations to develop and maintain a globally competitive American workforce. NIM sets skills standards for the industry, certifies individual skills against the standards and accredits training programs that meet NIMS quality requirements. NIMS operates under rigorous and highly disciplined processes as the only developer of American National Standards for the nation’s metalworking industry accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

The NIMS free testing opportunity is supported by a new grant Highlands College received in both one year programs of Machining and Welding called Strengthening Workforce Alignment in Montana’s Manufacturing and Energy Industries or SWAMMEI. The SWAMMEI project is a $25 million grant-funded initiative to create cost-effective training programs, accessible from anywhere in Montana, that link low-skilled workers with jobs that enhance our manufacturing and energy workforce and bolster the state’s economic opportunities.

A partnership between Montana’s two-year colleges and the Montana Department of Labor, the SWAMMEI project is designed to get students into good paying jobs quickly. By meeting the specific needs of local employers, aligning curriculum with national industry-recognized credentials and providing opportunities to enter apprenticeship training, SWAMMEI programs offer students significant opportunities and value. 

If you are interested in learning more about the programs and the courses offered, please contact Kehli Hazlett, Highlands College SWAMMEI Workforce Navigator at 406.490.0469 or KHazlett@mtech.edu.