Brandon attended college right out of high school but only because “everyone else was going.” He eventually dropped out. He was left with two options: take a low paying, dead end job with no benefits or go back to college and take on a mountain of debt.
Rockland Community College (RCC) is offering a third option: its Career Skills Academy, which quickly enables its graduates to enter the workforce in upwardly mobile jobs that pay a family-supporting wage.
A response to today’s economic reality, the Academy provides training for “middle skills” jobs — those for which a post high-school credential is needed, but not necessarily a two- or four-year college degree. Through short-term programs ranging from 2-16 weeks, graduates earn industry supported credentials for jobs that exist within the region and pay at least $45,000 per year.
At the end of its inaugural year, nearly half of the Academy’s 40 students have already received job placements in such fields as Gas Pipeline Operations, CAD Drafting/3D Modeling, Google IT Support, and Social Media Entrepreneurship. The graduates, whose ages ranged from 18-45, included those with community college and college degrees and high school graduates.
According to Dr. Michael Baston, RCC President (pictured), “It was time to replace an outdated model. The value of a community college education has always been in its ability to offer opportunity and upward mobility in a cost-effective format to anyone with a high school degree.
“Traditionally, this meant offering general education courses to recent high school graduates at an affordable price, after which they could transfer to a four-year college. The problem is that this is not the only route to social mobility anymore,” he added.
RCC has redesigned the college under the Guided Pathways model, which provides wraparound support and counseling to every student, even before he/she takes a single course. Its philosophy is rooted on the belief that every student of every age is college material as long as the college is student ready and the offerings are in line with the students’ needs and the job market.
The college has made a commitment to this student ready philosophy and to support students of all ages with courses and offerings that enable them to make career choices that will support their families and bolster the local economy.
“In this, our 60th year, Rockland Community College will celebrate ‘A Legacy of Change.’ We are proud to serve as a catalyst for transformation for those of any age who want to enhance their knowledge and skills to become workforce ready. The future of all community colleges lies in their ability to meet students where they are in their own journey and help them take the next step to where they want to be,” adds Dr. Baston.
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