Triton offers degree for building contractors

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Updated: February 6, 2012 4:58PM

Triton College hopes to add entrepreneurship and professionalism to the word “handyman” with a new degree the college is offering.

This semester students can take classes that will eventually lead to them receiving an Independent Building Contractor associate’s degree. The degree will provide training in trades such as carpentry, plumbing and interior finishing as well as help the student obtain the financial and managerial knowledge to become a small business owner or obtain apprenticeship training.

Antoinette Baldin, dean of Business and Technology at Triton, said the degree is geared to people who may be looking to change careers.

“We’re seeing more and more people becoming a handyman and fixer uppers,” Baldin said. “It’s hard to find quality people who do this,” she said.

The college established the coursework to obtain the degree and get the necessary experience. So far five students have enrolled in the new program, but Baldin believes it will gain momentum.

Most of the classes are in the evening and all the tools needed to get the hands-on experience are provided.

Along with learning the hands-on portion of the coursework students also learn how to balance their books.

William Griffin, who is the accounting and business coordinator for the college, came up with some of the coursework to obtain the degree.

“We certainly want to show them (students) how to put together a business plan,” he said.

“I teach the business class that will be part of the program,” he said. “There continues to be a need for a professional contractor especially when it comes to marketing their business to perspective clients. It gives them an edge.”

Jo Beth Haplin, coordinator for the school’s architecture program, brought her knowledge to developing the curriculum for the program as well.

“Quite often handymen learn by doing,” she said. “Not always do they learn correctly. I’ve done some projects around my house and I shouldn’t have done what I did.”

Baldin said creating the degree is about creating opportunities for people, especially in a rough economy where jobs are scarce.

“I think it could be for people looking for a new career,” she said. “People who like working with their hands. We geared it for somebody who wants to be independent.”