The PTCC expansion and renovation project is well underway and includes a 25,000 sq. ft. addition and a 15,025 sq. ft. renovation of existing space on campus. The project has an expected two-year timeline and will first include an expansion for trades such as automated systems, automotive, welding and gunsmithing, along with a new nursing lab.

Construction began in July, 2024. In the fall of 2025, a new gunsmithing technology lab/hallway will be constructed, along with new south and east entrances to the college. In the spring of 2026, an automated systems technology lab/hallway and a healthcare simulation suite will be added.

The addition will be added onto the 80,000 sq. ft. existing building. The new welding lab will be ten times larger than the current lab, and the new gunsmithing program (the only one in the state) will house 72 student stations and a test range. The manufacturing lab will resemble a layout similar to manufacturing companies. A new student commons will connect to the existing lodge and west to the nursing area, which will include hospital, clinic and homecare-like settings.

Expansion and Renovation – view for more information.

Pine City, MN — March 4, 2025 — Pine Technical and Community College (PTCC) proudly announces that its Practical and Associate Degree (RN) nursing programs have earned reaccreditation from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). This significant achievement underscores PTCC’s commitment to providing high-quality nursing education and preparing students to excel in the healthcare field.

The NLN CNEA reaccreditation recognizes PTCC’s adherence to rigorous academic standards and best practices essential for nursing education. This designation not only validates the college’s dedication to student success but also assures prospective students, employers, and the community that PTCC’s nursing graduates are well-prepared to meet the complex demands of the healthcare industry.

The NLN CNEA accreditation process involves a comprehensive evaluation of program outcomes, faculty qualifications, curriculum design, and student support services. PTCC’s successful accreditation highlights its alignment with the NLN CNEA’s core values, including integrity, excellence, and diversity in nursing education.

Accreditation from NLN CNEA provides numerous benefits for PTCC students, including enhanced opportunities for employment, eligibility for federal funding and scholarships, and a streamlined pathway to pursue advanced nursing degrees.

Kristin Madigan, Dean of PTCC’s Nursing Programs, added, “Earning reaccreditation from CNEA is a testament to PTCC’s continued commitment to excellence in nursing education. This achievement ensures that our program meets the highest standards, providing students with a quality education that prepares them for the demanding, ever-changing healthcare field. We are proud to be a regional resource providing qualified healthcare professionals and career readiness for the industry and the communities and patients served.”

For more information about Pine Technical and Community College’s nursing program, visit Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing.

Congratulations, President’s List Honor Students!

Students who meet the following criteria are included on the President’s List
1. Current enrollment at PTCC with a declared major as a full-time student (12 or more credits)
2. A GPA for the semester of 4.00
3. Students will be eligible for each semester in which they are enrolled in a declared major
4. Courses taken on a pass/no credit basis will be used to calculate full-time status but not GPA

Congratulations, Dean’s List Honor Students!

Students who meet the following criteria are included on the Dean’s List:
1. Current enrollment at PTCC with a declared major as a full-time student (12 or more credits)
2. A GPA for the semester of 3.00-3.99
3. Students will be eligible for each semester in which they are enrolled in a declared major
4. Courses taken on a pass/no credit basis will be used to calculate full-time status but not GPA

Congratulations, Notable Achievement Honor Students!

Students who meet the following criteria are included on the Notable Achievement List for fall semester 2024:
1. Current enrollment at PTCC with a declared major as a part-time student (registered for 6-11 credits)
2. A GPA for the semester of 3.50 or above
3. Students will be eligible for each semester in which they are enrolled in a declared major
4. Courses taken on a pass/no credit basis will be used to calculate full-time status but not GPA

Pine City, MN – Pine Technical and Community College (PTCC) was proud to participate in the 2024 Minnesota State Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC), held on January 25, 2025. Hosted by Alexandria Technical and Community College, this event brought together eight teams from across the state to compete in a challenging cybersecurity simulation. The competition was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Abbott, WiSP Services, LLC, and Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association.

Pine Technical and Community College is dedicated to preparing students for the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity and IT. Our participation in the Minnesota CCDC underscores our commitment to hands-on learning and real-world experience. This competition, organized annually by the Minnesota State IT Center of Excellence (MN STATE IT COE), provides students with an opportunity to test their skills in a high-pressure, real-world simulation of cybersecurity threats and defense.

The competition tasked students with assuming administrative and security responsibilities for a commercial network, simulating a small business environment. Each team was challenged to detect and respond to cyber threats while maintaining critical services such as email, web hosting, and e-commerce platforms. Teams competed against a Red Team of ethical hackers, who tested their defensive skills in real time. Scoring was based on service availability, response effectiveness, and overall cybersecurity strategy.

This year, over 100 students from 10 Minnesota higher education institutions participated, alongside faculty, industry professionals, and cybersecurity experts. The top teams from the Minnesota CCDC advanced to the Regional CCDC at Moraine Valley Community College in Illinois, with a chance to compete at the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in San Antonio, Texas, in April 2025.

Competition Results:

• 1st Place: St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
• 2nd Place: Metro State University, Saint Paul, MN
• 3rd Place: Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN
• 4th Place: Dunwoody College of Technology, Minneapolis, MN
• Other Participating Teams: Alexandria Technical and Community College, Century College, Lake Superior College, Minneapolis College, Minnesota State Community and Technical College (in partnership with Minnesota State University, Moorhead), and Pine Technical and Community College.

Pine Technical and Community College is honored to have been part of this rigorous competition, further solidifying our commitment to cybersecurity education and workforce readiness. We extend our gratitude to MN STATE IT COE, our fellow competitors, and the event sponsors for making this competition possible. We look forward to continuing to build the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

For more information about Pine Technical and Community College’s cybersecurity programs and opportunities, visit pine.edu/academics/programs-courses/cyber-security/

Join us this spring semester at The REC!

The REC is a vibrant space where students can relax, connect, and recharge outside the classroom. We believe in supporting not just your academic success but your overall well-being.

Whether you’re looking for a place to hang out with friends, enjoy some entertainment, or just unwind after a busy day, The REC has something for everyone.

Start enjoying The REC! Sign-up for orientation to receive full access.

Sign-up

Please open the PDF file to activate all hyperlinks.

Pine Technical and Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, Beta Kappa Rho, held it’s fall induction ceremony on December 11^th, 2024. 25 new inductees had their academic achievements celebrated in the ceremony in the Lodge. Phi Theta Kappa is the International Honor Society for students at two-year colleges. The Pine Technical & Community College local chapter is Beta Kappa Rho, a member of the Minn-Kota regional chapter. Students have their eligibility for Phi Theta Kappa determined based on their GPA and the number of credits they have completed towards their degree. There will be another induction ceremony in the spring, on April 28^th. Students interested in learning more about Phi Theta Kappa can reach out to chapter advisor Sara Carman at sara.carman@pine.edu.

When asked ten years ago what his dream job was, Joe Mulford would have responded, “being the president of Pine Technical & Community College.” Mulford achieved that dream and still considers it his dream job going into his tenth year as president at the college.

Mulford took a moment to speak on this tenure, the changes the college has seen during this time and looking ahead to future possibilities.

Prior to coming to PTCC in 2015, Mulford served about 18 years at multiple two-year Minnesota colleges in administrative positions. In 2003, he and his wife Julie moved to Mora to be near her family. There they renovated an old farmhouse where they still live. At that time, Mulford worked for Anoka Technical College and realized he wanted to help students in his own community achieve their academic goals.

“Being the President at Pine Technical and Community College was literally my dream job,” said Mulford. “I commuted to different jobs at different colleges in the Twin Cities for over a decade and hoped my preparation and the presidential opportunity at Pine would somehow align.”

The opportunity arose at PTCC, and Mulford was offered the position. His prior experience helped craft a vision for the college. The college has seen many changes, some due to external influences such as the Frandsen scholarships and a legislative bond, but not without the unique vision Mulford offered.

“When you look back over our nearly 60 years, there have always been changes happening at Pine,” noted Mulford. “My role essentially falls into the two key areas of risk management and culture management. Foremost is making sure we are student-focused and doing the things that really matter or impact students the most.”

Of the recent changes, the college has seen renovations inside and outside with the plaza area and the front of the building. Most notably is the major expansion happening on the east side of the facility largely thanks to a $21.4 million legislative bond which Mulford and local legislators lobbied for. The expansion will include a 25,000 sq. ft. addition and a 15,025 sq. ft. renovation of existing space on campus for trades such as automated systems, automotive, welding and gunsmithing, and a new nursing lab. The addition will be added onto the 80,000 sq. ft. existing building.

Also notable is the Lakeside Student Housing development owned by Fred Stelter which opened this summer and allows students to live near campus on Cross Lake. Several new academic programs have also been added in areas like automation, construction, applied engineering, welding, emergency medical services, and liberal arts courses.

One of the biggest challenges, said Mulford, is staying on course with the long-range strategic goals while also not losing sight of the short-term needs of the organization. “At small colleges like Pine, the president might set up tables if help is needed or jump start a student’s car if they are having problems while also having to know where the college needs to be in five years to ten years,” he added.

When asked of the most unusual thing that has happened in his tenure, Mulford said “for sure COVID.”

“You could never have imagined getting a phone call that you have about two weeks to move all courses on-line as well as figuring out how to provide all college services remotely,” he recalled. “This is hopefully a once in a career thing.”

On a lighter note, he recalled on one warm fall day a few years ago, he was called because a garter snake had found its way into the building. “People were rightfully freaked out,” he quipped. “It is the only time in my career I had to physically grab a snake and remove it from a building. As they say, other duties as assigned…”

When asked about the most rewarding part of the job, he responded, “That has always been graduation day. I like to tell people it’s the best day of the year. Seeing the student that you weren’t sure was even going to start college and then graduate is awesome.”

On what he is most proud of, Mulford responded, “To know that more and more people in the area see college as possible because of the partnerships and programming efforts we have put in place. I am specifically proud that seven of my nieces and nephews, along with both of my sons have attended Pine in the last few years. It’s great when they compliment you on how nice everyone is at the college or how much courses have helped them.”

Overall, Mulford says it’s hard to think about the college without faculty or students here. “Many of the things that we have done for students and the community requires a ton of behind the scenes work,” he noted. “Our staff and faculty just make things happen and figure a way to do it. The staff and faculty at Pine are as student-focused as anywhere I have ever seen. As a small college we can’t do things alone and the support and partnerships with donors, businesses, school districts, Pine County and Pine City is how we can do the things we are doing. This region appreciates PTCC and we appreciate our region.”

Of Mulford’s tenure, PTCC Foundation Board member Mike Gainor noted the energy, enthusiasm and vision Mulford came to the college with. “It’s hard to believe 10 years have passed since then, but what he and his team have accomplished in that time is absolutely remarkable, with new and retooled programs to better fit students’ needs, a nationally-recognized scholarship program, and beautiful new facilities to improve the student experience. I don’t know how he’s going to be able to top all this over the next ten years, but I don’t doubt for a second that he’s going to try his best to do just that.”

Looking to the future, Mulford is excited to see the current building project take shape that will be conducive to new programs. “This programming will include new academic, student life, workforce programming along with possibly some sports in our future,” he added.

Written by Traci Lebrun, Pine City Pioneer Editor