On the evening of September 26, Hurricane Helene was barreling toward Western North Carolina. Our Blue Ridge Community College campuses were uncharacteristically dark and, to be frank, no one expected what our entire region was about to encounter. Just hours earlier, our campus chief of police and communications team issued a statement urging students, staff […]
Skills Gap Articles
Data analytics program empowers students, drives success for women in in-demand careers
Sinclair Community College continues to raise the bar in data analytics education by empowering more students with critical skills for in demand, living wage careers. By leveraging grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Ohio college has expanded its data analytics programs and increased enrollment and completion for female students. In 2021, Sinclair […]
Nursing students prepare to give care in Kenya
Sarah Zech, a nursing instructor at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC), said it’s not enough for students to know the technical skills of nursing. They also must know how to connect and care for patients as people. One way to do that is to immerse them in the world of health care in other cultures […]
Dance instructor program transforms passion into a career
San Jacinto College’s new dance instructor technical program is a gateway to turning a passion into a rewarding career. Through this specialized program, guided by expert instructors and held in the Texas college’s dance facilities, students gain the essential skills and experience to become a successful studio dance instructor. The program provides basic preparation for […]
Virtual opportunity for real-world learning
With the click of a stylus, Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) students studying heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) can manipulate an entire heat and air conditioning system, turn it upside down by themselves, take it apart and put it back together. Electrical students can wire a generator, and emergency medical services (EMS) students […]
Program offers ever-expanding opportunities in therapeutic massage
Southern Union State Community College’s (SU) therapeutic massage (TM) program is helping students find meaningful, well-paid careers. According to TM program coordinator Kendall Yates, demand for licensed massage professionals is on the rise as more and more people recognize the health and wellness benefits provided by therapeutic massage, a fact that Yates learned through her […]
College, theater collaborate to enhance art experience to Deaf community
For nearly 40 years, two neighboring institutions—Houston Community College (HCC) Central and the Ensemble Theatre—have attracted creative talent from across Houston. HCC Central focuses on higher education, while the Ensemble Theatre offers theatrical education for the entire community. Eileen Morris, who has served as the Ensemble’s artistic director since 1990, said the theatre has had […]
Advancing energy justice through SMART building technology
As buildings increasingly incorporate advanced technologies, there is a growing need for professionals who can design, implement, and manage these complex systems. Recognizing this demand, the Center for Smart Building Technology (C4SBT) at Roxbury Community College (RCC) has developed a comprehensive SMART Building program. This program not only equips students with cutting-edge skills but also […]
Bringing supercomputing to the classroom
The San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) has taken a major step toward the future of supercomputing by joining a worldwide collaboration of research institutions seeking groundbreaking scientific discoveries. The district is part of the National Research Platform, a partnership of more than 50 institutions led by researchers at UC San Diego, the University of […]
Purveyors of apprenticeships?
As of 2023, 541 community or technical colleges were registered apprenticeship “sponsors,” meaning they officially administered and operated apprenticeship programs. However, only 208 of these colleges had an active apprentice. Therein lies the rub in a pitch by the Apprenticeships for America (AFA), an advocacy organization working to expand apprenticeships, to rally more community colleges […]