Mid-South Welding Students Continue Certification Perfection

Welding students at Arkansas State University Mid-South continue to ace certification exams at a 100 percent clip, and lead instructor Ed Cook says he couldn’t be more pleased.

“It tickles me to death,” said Cook who has 30 years of welding experience. “I’ve been welding all my life, and every time you take a test, you get nervous. It’s not like welding every day. And all it takes is one little piece of trapped slag, and you fail.

For us to go three years and not have something like that happen is amazing.”

The feat is even more impressive when the volume is added to the equation. This spring, ASU Mid-South students passed 53 of 53 tests.

“That’s a pretty good number,” Cook said. “We’ve had really good students who take pride in what they’re learning. We’re putting out a pretty good product, and industries are calling me right and left looking for welders.”

College Becomes ASU Mid-South; Focus Remains on Students, Community

Mid-South Community College officially became Arkansas State University Mid-South on July 1, but while visual changes will begin appearing soon, the focus on student and community needs will remain the same.

“We have changed what we call our institution, but we have not changed who we are,” said Dr. Barbara Baxter, ASU Mid-South interim chancellor. “Our mission to meet the higher education needs of our region continues to be our driving force. Other than new signs, new logos, new ID cards, and new web and email addresses, our students probably won’t see a great deal of change in the next few months.”

“Our long-term hope is that our merger with the ASU System will bring enhanced program offerings to our campus and even greater opportunities for our students to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees without leaving Crittenden County.”