Metro-North helps craft college curriculum
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefConnecticut’s Gateway Community College Foundation has honored MTA Metro-North Railroad for “outstanding corporate citizenship” in helping to develop the school’s Rail Engineering Technology (RET) Degree program.
MTA said the program is the result a two-year collaboration of the college with the railroad’s Maintenance of Equipment, Communications & Signal, Training, and Labor Relations departments.
“Metro-North, and the rail industry as a whole, is facing an acute shortage of skilled electrical workers,” said Metro-North Railroad President Howard Permut. “There is a particular need for qualified trainees in the field of railroad signal systems, which is a highly specialized skill only taught on-the-job.”
To address this need, Metro-North in conjunction with the college’s engineering staff developed a rail-specific electronics training program. Graduates will be qualified to compete for jobs at MTA’s three railroads: Metro-North, the Long Island Rail Road, and the New York City subway system.
The program was accredited on Oct. 20 by the Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education.
