re: Has anyone taken College courses while being an operator?

It’s more about the knowledge I could apply and job security in the event that something happens. Make no mistake, if I can land a job in operations I won’t be going anywhere unless it is beyond my control. I just find myself pursuing engineering topics in my free time more and more. I am fascinated by it. Thanks everyone for the helpful replies

Mechanical engineering is pretty much a full time job. Would be crazy hard with the schedule an operator would be working

Swapping day for night and I’m sure you understand ME is a fricking bitch.

I truly applaud your efforts and wish you the best.

So wait, your fall back plan in the event you get laid off/fired is based on earning an engineering degree?

Otherwise, you are happy as an operator?

My man, you are not mentally prepared for what lies ahead.

Do as many classes as you can online. Start at a community college and take all of your electives there and basic maths and sciences. Knock out every class you can at community college then transfer to a university. The more classes you take online, the more free time you have. You avoid wasting time in traffic, looking for parking, ect just to get to the school. In today's college, you go to class, listen to a lecture, then go online to submit homework, so just eliminate the class lecture. Of course calc classes, physics, ect you want to go to a class, but classes like English 101, history electives, public speaking all the bull pop classes, take online either through the community college or university. You will save thousands by starting at a community college first. University's allow 60 credit hours to transfer from a community college to apply for a degree, so take full advantage of that.

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Seems like it would be very hard with the OT that operations work, and the rotating shifts. Millwrights at my plant work straight days aside from the random call out.

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This! I have even been suggested to go get a Chemical Engineering degree from my superiors, but its impossible unless I got a straight day job.

Unless you didn't have a ton of overtime, and had someone to swap with you every 4 weeks when your Tuesday night came up and you have to go to a lecture. This is obviously just one example. The issue is the swap would be probably for someone working the weekend so you would have to work an extra weekend to get someone to swap for your week night shift.

TL,DR: It's nearly impossible to further education while working shift work. If you can millwright, I'd highly suggest that route.

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am interested in getting a degree in Mechanical Engineering.Apart from the obvious dedication it would take to go to school while also working with a wife and child, would an engineering degree at all be possible while on shiftwork? Have any of you done it?

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I actually knew a guy at my last job who did just this. Years before he was working with me as a Project Engineer,
He worked in pulp/paper industry in the forestry dept for IP. He did his day job frickin around with trees/tests/paperwork etc while getting his Mechanical Engineering degree from Mississippi State. Now granted he mostly worked days m-f. But It's not that far fetched to do if you are patient and determined.

Fantastic responses, thanks!

Yep. Worked 48 hours a week on 3rd shift.

One semester sucked arse because my classes on MWF were in the morning and on TR they were in the evening so my sleep was at a different time every day.