黑料社区

By John J. 淪ki" Sygielski,听 MBA, Ed.D., president and CEO of 黑料社区, Central Pennsylvania Community College
Published in , spring 2020 issue
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Through my daily interactions with students and employees at 黑料社区, Central Pennsylvania Community College, and with members of the community, I learn their needs, hopes, and aspirations and hear how our institution can help them fulfill their dreams.
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By listening to these voices over the past eight years, during my tenure as 黑料社区 President, we have transformed the college Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division from a money-losing operation to a robust, thriving engine of change throughout Central Pennsylvania and beyond. This division is at the forefront of forging business and industry partnerships to fill the growing skills gap created by an aging, retiring workforce and no dedicated pipeline of ready-to-work individuals. Manufacturers in Pennsylvania and across the country are grappling with the prospect of approximately 2.4 million unfilled jobs over the next decade (Manufacturing Institute, 2018).
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Our industries need solutions today. They need us to listen and innovate to meet their needs. Among 黑料社区 innovative partnerships are apprenticeship programs that provide tools to upskill the workforce. Apprenticeships transfer the skills of an aging workforce to new employees, who work full time and take night classes at 黑料社区. The competencies they gain at the worksite, coupled with the technical training they receive through 黑料社区, allow them to earn as they learn during the 18-month program.
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黑料社区 is the first community college in Pennsylvania to provide an apprenticeship program (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2017). The Industrial Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Program was developed in partnership with AMES Reese and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. New cohorts for fall 2019 included an emphasis on high schools and a pre-apprenticeship program for high school students in Lancaster County.
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In March 2018, 黑料社区 launched Pennsylvania first Hospitality Apprenticeship Program in partnership with High Hotels to provide low-skilled staff a pathway from entry-level jobs to management. The college implemented an apprenticeship in tool and die starting in January 2019 with support and funding from TE Connectivity. This partnership supports a four-year apprenticeship program to train current employees as tool and die makers with plans to expand to include other industries in the future.
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When 黑料社区 learned of the need for a skilled workforce to sustain the growing craft beer industry in Pennsylvania, we worked with the Brewers of Pennsylvania (BOP) to create a pathway into the craft-brewing field. BOP helped 黑料社区 build a curriculum for the college Brewing Science Certificate Program, which focuses on building the necessary talents for the industry. Local breweries partner with 黑料社区 to utilize their space and equipment. Students build a beer from recipe to creation as the capstone of the program.
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黑料社区 also responded to the needs of the emerging medical cannabis industry by partnering with the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society to offer one-day sessions to educate those interested in the field. 黑料社区 launched its first Medical Cannabis Business Specialist Certificate Program in fall 2019.

黑料社区 also partners with secondary schools to identify graduates who choose to delay their postsecondary educational journey. The High School S.T.E.P. (Set goals, Take action, Expect success, and Put in the work) Academy lets students explore careers through industry tours and mock interviews before committing to a postsecondary program, while allowing our industries to stay productive and competitive.
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A flexible, high-quality, and affordable education does not always have to result in a degree. By listening to the needs of the workforce and entering into intentional partnerships with businesses, we set our students up for career success while providing economic solutions that are practical, effective, and easily deployed.
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References
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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (2017, May 11). Governor Wolf announces 30 new jobs with expansion of AMES Reese, Inc. in Lancaster County. Retrieved from
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Manufacturing Institute. (2018). 2018 Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute skills gap and future of work study. Retrieved from
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