“PBS News Hour” highlighted Cincy State MET degree

Cincinnati State’s associate degree program in Mechanical Engineering Technology, which offers majors in Manufacturing Management (METM) and Design (METD), was the focus of a report that aired on the national “PBS News Hour” on January 2, 2025. 

You can watch the 7-minute report online at the PBS website.

PBS reporter Paul Solmon interviewed MET students Andrew Lakes and Amy Gutmann Fuentes, as well as Program Chair Zane Decker and Cincinnati State’s President, Dr. Monica Posey.

The report examined the need for more manufacturing workers in the U.S., and the role of community colleges in providing skilled employees.

The story also looked at perceptions of manufacturing jobs as “not cool” and described how institutions like Cincinnati State are trying to change those attitudes.

Decker said potential students and their parents need to understand that manufacturing careers are not the same as in the past. 

“People are out there challenging themselves,” Decker said. “They’re spending half the time on the computer, half the time on the shop floor. I think if we can show young people this is a viable career and the training is available for it, we can fill the [manufacturing employee] gap.”

The PBS news team visited Cincinnati State during Fall Semester 2024 to prepare the report that aired in January.