Elizabeth Martinez repeatedly sees the “aha! moment” light up the eyes of program participants, when feelings of self-doubt are overridden by the recognition of possibility. It’s a feeling some haven’t experienced in a long time. Martinez is a career skills coach for students with an interest in getting their commercial driver’s license, an industry with […]
Skills Gap Articles
Open, affordable and stackable
Henry Gage was working at Target during Covid — one of the few places open during the pandemic at the time — when he decided it was time for a change. Gage was ready to dive into the information technology (IT) field — he would often help family members troubleshoot their computers — so he […]
A unique college-social services collaboration
Thirty-six-year-old Harry C. was born and raised in New York City. Like millions of other New Yorkers before him, he made some mistakes as a young adult. He later found his way to the social services agency Project Renewal, a citywide organization that helps individuals impacted by homelessness, substance use, mental illness and/or justice system […]
Eliminating language barriers in the hospitality industry
The Community College of Denver (CCD) and the Hispanic Restaurant Association have partnered together to create the Food and Beverage Language Institute (FBLI). This joint program will deliver language-based training for employees in the hospitality and food and beverage industries in Colorado. With more than 60% of non-native English speakers working in the food and beverage […]
Using MentorLinks to revamp biomed tech program
North Arkansas College (North Ark) restarted and revamped its biomedical electronics program using MentorLinks connections to information, educators and professional development for its faculty. “The [MentorLinks] grant has helped establish and direct the biomed program as it stands today,” said Scott Howie, director of the Technical Center at North Ark and the lead for the […]
Building the workforce and creating opportunity
In an effort to help combat the skilled worker shortage, Moraine Park Technical College (Wisconsin) offers Manufacturing Skills Academy Boot Camps – a unique opportunity to gain entry-level skills. The two boot camps – computer numerical control (cnc) and welding – are tuition-free, 3-month long programs. In addition to skill development, the boot camps include […]
In it for the long haul
A national shortage of 80,000 truck drivers isn’t a small problem. From freight haulers to retail companies, delivery services to construction firms, businesses that rely on trucking face a constant battle to find and retain qualified drivers. According to the American Trucking Association, the shortage could surpass 160,000 by 2030. That’s one of the reasons […]
Students give NASA a hand
Students from Wallace State Community College’s machine tool technology program are playing a part in history by providing parts for the Astro Restoration Project with NASA HUNCH and the Smithsonian Institute’s Air and Space Museum. The Astro Telescope flew in space two times on space shuttles before being decommissioned and eventually scrapped for parts. When […]
‘Nursing Flex’ caters to working nurses
Jessica Barnes loves her job as a registered nurse at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia. The 2021 Associate Degree Nursing Flex graduate says Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCtech) prepared her well for working in the center’s fast-paced emergency room. “Being an RN is a lot of responsibility, but it’s also […]
Meeting the needs of the region
Promoting lifelong learning is a cornerstone of the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s (NWTC’s) mission. That takes many forms, from continuing education to upskilling opportunities and continuous improvement for the region’s workforce. Although the college has seen cycles of peaks and valleys in Northeast Wisconsin’s business development, NWTC’s Corporate Training and Economic Development department (CTED) has […]