Families, friends, and representatives from Hired, Minnesota Department of Economic Development (DEED), Normandale Community College, Polar Semiconductor, Seagate and Skywater Technology gathered last week at Normandale Community College to celebrate 16 graduates from the inaugural Semiconductor Technician Career Pathways Program. The earn-and-learn program was funded by Drive for Five, a competitive grant from DEED. Participants […]
Skills Gap Articles
Apprenticeship program to address growing eye care workforce needs
Central Piedmont Community College and Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A. (CEENTA) are deepening their longstanding partnership with the launch of a new apprenticeship program. This innovative six-month, earn-while-you-learn program is designed to prepare students for careers as certified ophthalmic assistants — a critical but often understaffed role in the eye care industry. […]
Follow the leader
Sania Kamani wasn’t entirely clear about her path forward, but she knew that four years of traditional college learning in classrooms was not for her. “Since I was 16, I’ve been building my resume and looking for opportunities to grow, but the idea of becoming stagnant while in college didn’t appeal to me,” she said. […]
Program reaches an apprenticeship milestone
In 2018, Hinds Community College partnered with KLLM Transport Services and the U.S. Department of Labor to establish a Truck Driver Registered Apprenticeship program. This April, the partners reached a significant milestone of 1,000 apprentices completing the registered apprenticeship program. “KLLM is committed to having the safest truck drivers on the road and ensuring from […]
First-of-its-kind program is built on partnerships
South Seattle College (SSC), in collaboration with the Port of Seattle, has launched a certificate program in airport ground support equipment, the first publicly offered training program of its kind in the United States. The program was created to address industry labor shortages and respond to airport workers’ requests for upskilling opportunities. Offered through SSC’s […]
Students tackle real-world housing issues
What happens when design education meets community need? At Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), the answer is home — real ones that are affordable, sustainable and deeply rooted in neighborhood values. Students in the sustainable residential design program applied their learning to a real-life project with major community impact. Assistant professor Corri Sandwick knows all […]
Brewing up something new
Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s (KVCC) sustainable brewing program is now accessible to students across the United States through an innovative new online format. This expansion aims to eliminate geographical barriers, making high-quality brewing education affordable, flexible and available to anyone pursuing a career in the brewing industry. Students in the program will gain the skills […]
12 student teams named CCIC finalists
A record number of student teams from community colleges across the country competed this year in the annual Community College Innovation Challenge, with the American Association of Community Colleges announcing on Tuesday that 12 teams have advanced to the final round in June. Now in its ninth year, the competition run by AACC, in partnership […]
Addressing the need for behavioral health professionals
This May, the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) joins the nation in observing Mental Health Awareness Month. CCCS has spent several years developing a program designed to address the urgent need for behavioral health professionals. At the cornerstone of this program are five industry-recognized certificates, each of which can be completed in less than a […]
Graduates to serve Michigan’s defense sector
At the end of March, the first 21 students in Macomb Community College’s Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) 17-week accelerated training programs graduated, prepared to immediately contribute to the work of southeast Michigan’s local defense sector. Eleven students completed the maritime CNC machining program, while 10 students graduated from the maritime welding program. All the M3 […]