|
| |
|
|
|
You are here: Home Workforce ServicesWorkforce Newsletter - June 2009
|
Career Pathway News
2009 Career Coach Academy – “Career Coaches: Enlightening Virginia’s Future Workforce”
The 2009 Career Coach Academy will take place on September 15‐17 at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel. The Academy will focus on training coaches in the Virginia Education Wizard and the new VDOE Academic and Career Plans. The ever popular Business and Industry panel will return to help coaches understand better the career consulting component of their jobs. Registration is currently underway. If you have not submitted a conference registration form, please contact Scott Kemp.
Databytes
Student Success Snapshot
In the latest Student Success Snapshot Dual Enrollment: An On-Ramp to Success in Postsecondary highlights the role of dual enrollment in improving their postsecondary outcomes. The snapshot provides system-wide and college-specific data.
College Submissions
- Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA)
When local concrete manufacturer Americast, Inc., identified a need to train supervisors to become effective leaders, they partnered with the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) for skills assessments and the design of an effective instructional model.
Following WorkKeys® profiles and supervisors’ training last year, CCWA recently presented a 15-session program. The classes, which received 100 percent participation, incorporated a “5-Point Play” system including communication, trust, collective responsibility, caring and pride. CCWA instructors Steve Ellis and Jackie Anderson designed and led the program over a 12-week period.
Dave Brisner, human resources manager at Americast, told Virginia Business magazine in a recent interview, “The best thing about it was [the Alliance’s] ability to come in, learn about our business and customize a program.” He added, “That made the learning much more effective, because it was geared to situations and problems our supervisors deal with on the job every day.”
Read more about the CCWA/Americast partnership from Virginia Business magazine.
- Germanna Community College (GCC)
 The staff of Germanna Community College’s Center for Workforce and Community Education recently completed the Workforce Development Competency Course through University of Virginia’s Workforce Development Academy. The WDA program began as collaboration between the University of Virginia and the Virginia Community College System. The course was instructed by Barbara Kessler, Director of Career and Professional Development Programs with the University of Virginia's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Ms. Kessler taught the course on site at Germanna Community College and adjusted the curriculum to best suit the specific needs of the Workforce Staff at Germanna. During the course of the training, the staff redefined their mission, established goals and objectives, and explored strategies for meeting these goals and objectives. The training provided them the opportunity to initiate more efficient processes, to improve teamwork and overall support to the mission. The training culminated with their strategic planning presentation to Dr. Jeanne Wesley (Germanna’s Vice President of Workforce and Community Relations), Martha O’Keefe (Dean of Workforce and Professional Development), and Russell James (Dean of Workforce and Business Services.) The competencies acquired are certain to lead Germanna’s Center for Workforce to their vision and mission for excellence in all areas of Workforce Development. Dr. Wesley stated that “Our staff plays a crucial role in the economic growth and development of the region we serve. Barbara Kessler has been instrumental in building our staff’s workforce competencies and fostering a renewed sense purpose and excitement.”
- Lord Fairfax Community college (LFCC)
LFCC's Workforce Solutions forms Regional Educational Consortium
Your area schools systems are more challenged now than ever to provide professional development and recertification training to their staff and teachers with fewer resources and tighter budgets. Community colleges are in a wonderful position to help local school systems pool their resources to deliver high quality programs and still meet the demands of educating their diverse school system workforce. Based on the pilot model at Rappahannock Community College, LFCC brought together all the school systems in their service region to explore the formation of a regional educational consortium. Four school systems signed on for the inaugural year of the consortium. These four school systems will be utilizing LFCC’s summer educational consortium academy to support the professional development of over 2,300 teachers and 800 other administrators and school staff personnel. Eighteen seminars are scheduled this summer in unique areas presented by nationally acclaimed speakers. Some of the seminars include;
• Programs for Gifted and Talented Students
• PE Recertification
• Reading Across Curriculum
• Educating in the 21st Century
Even though this summer’s programs are yet to begin, LFCC is already planning the second year of the consortium and hoping to expand the number of school systems participating.
- Paul D. Camp Community College (PDCCC)
Workforce Employees Honored for Effective Training
 Teri Zurfluh and Ann Stephens could not figure out why they emphatically were asked to attend a recent business function. Trainers and coordinators at Paul D. Camp Community College’s Division of Workforce Development, Zurfluh and Stephens were enlightened that evening when they were honored during the 2009 Business Appreciation Event held by the Franklin Southampton Economic Development.
“Rarely are we speechless, but we were that night,” said Zurfluh.They were recognized for excellent training after designing and conducting two customized, multi-month training sessions for Narricot Industries’ supervisors and management team.
“…everyone (said the class) jumpstarted their teamwork skills, (including) how they communicate and their willingness to ask for help,” said Kris Potter, human resources manager at Narricot.
Several managers, including Potter, spoke at the event about their experience with the training and how it had helped them. Zurfluh noted that hearing such positive feedback from the clients confirmed the workforce’s purpose. The classes not only proved to be informative, but the processes learned actually worked when applied at the industry.
“The results showed in their bottom line,” she said. “That’s why we’re here-to help businesses get better in a measurable way.”
Every client’s training session is customized to fit the business’ particular needs and almost all of the training is conducted on-site.
“We get results because we do a lot of upfront homework with the business,” said Zurfluh.
Zurfluh and Stephens also won a state Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Trainers in 2007.
- Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC)
Initiatives Help Prepare Youth for Careers
 PIEDMONT FUTURES, an alliance formed with Piedmont Virginia Community College and the school districts of the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene an d Nelson Counties, received a grant from Perkins/Central Virginia Community College to offer career exploration camps for middle school students.
The Career Academies in Computer Technologies and Health Technologies were held from June 15-18 at Piedmont Virginia Community College. The academies offered hands-on workshops taught by faculty from PVCC and U.Va. as well as professionals from area businesses.
Campers enrolled in the Health Technologies Academy learned about Surgical Technology, Medical Coding, Radiology, Emergency Medical Services and Nursing. Field trips to U.Va Medical Center and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad gave the campers a “real life” glimpse into the health care professions. Campers also earned CPR certification through the American Heart Association.
Campers in the Computer Technologies Academy learned about programming, computer electronics, podcasts, and digital recording and editing. Workshops with professionals from the Best Buy Geek Squad, NBC29, the Music Resource Center and the U. Va. Department of Computer Science gave the campers hands-on experience.
Twenty-five students, rising 7th, 8th and 9th-graders, enrolled in both Academies, coming from the City of Charlottesville as well as Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, and Nelson Counties. Two PVCC students assisted as camp counselors. The camps were supervised by a Career Coach and an instructor from PVCC Workforce Services.
PVCC Workforce Services piloted a “cohort” class for Personal Care Assistants (PCA) organized for One Stop clients in April-May 2009. The cohort concept based on organizing a group of students who have the same career goals, and placing them in training as a group. The curriculum is enriched to include workplace skills. By forming a cohort of peers, the students develop friendships and support each other.
Case managers with the Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth programs at the One Stop recruited 15 students for the program. Thirteen completed the certificate in Companion Aide; 9 completed the PCA certificate. Tutoring was provided to the clients who did not complete the PCA certificate. At the end of the training, a mini job fair was held during class with 7 clients receiving job offers from local employers. Eight students plan to continue their education by taking Nursing Assistant training offered at to increase their earning potential.
- Southside Virginia Community College (SSVCC)
 The Workforce Development and Continuing Education staff at Southside Virginia Community College recently took their leader, Dr. Al Roberts, to lunch at a favorite restaurant in recognition of his earned doctorate. Dr. Roberts recently completed his Ph. D. in Community College Leadership from Old Dominion University. Dr. Roberts has been employed at SVCC for the past 14 years and has served as Vice President for Workforce Development and Continuing Education for the past year. Dr. Roberts has done extensive research in the areas of multi-cultural education, cross-cultural communication, and African-American male retention and persistence. Dr. Roberts lives in Emporia with his wife Janet who is Director of Personnel for Greensville County Schools. The Roberts have three adult children - Ross, a Ph.D. candidate in Accounting at Drexel University in Philadelphia; Scott, a national organizer for MoveOn.Org and former Philadelphia Regional Director for the Obama ’08 Campaign; and Lauren, a graduate student in English Education at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
- Tidewater Community College (TCC)
 The Academy for Nonprofit Excellence, a professional development certificate program, hosted award-winning author and nonprofit communications specialist, Tom Ahern, president of Ahern Communications, INK for a two-day program on donor communications. Tom Ahern is one of North America's leading authorities on fundraising, advocacy, and "persuasion" communications.
The program, “Love Thy Reader” was an immersion into the secrets and psychology behind effective communications to raise money, steward relationships and build an organization’s image. Program participants spent two days learning tips, techniques, and best practices --illustrated with real-life examples of great and not-so-great communications from charities and advocacy groups of all types and sizes. Many thanks to Tom for generously donating his lunches and evenings to consulting with course participants in small groups or individually. It was a lively group and content rich experience.
- Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC)
 Franz Albertini and his co-workers in Workforce Development awarded 184 Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) in sixty days utilizing Just in Time grant funding. Susan Generazio, a career coach in the Office of Outreach and Recruitment, played an instrumental role in this effort by urging students from the New Horizon Regional Education Center to work toward the certificate. Of the 184 certificates issued in May, 108 were awarded to New Horizon students. Eighty percent of those who completed the program within the sixty days, scored at the silver and gold levels.
The duos efforts didn’t go unnoticed. In fact, David Creamer, the principal at New Horizon, sent a letter of appreciation praising TNCC’s program. Creamer wrote, “Yesterday, I had a visit from a student who just completed our HVAC program. He was extremely proud as he had just come from his first day of work at Canon Virginia as a Camera Repair Specialist. He looked great in his freshly pressed uniform and was extremely grateful to one person --Susan Generazio, the TNCC Manufacturing Career Coach housed here at New Horizons. It was largely through Susan's efforts that he was hired at Canon. What is significant is that your Career Coach is doing the same thing with over 100 other New Horizons manufacturing students. To date, she has tested 108 students on the Works Keys with 93.5% receiving at least the Bronze level. She is in the process of trying to arrange other interviews. We look forward to continue working with Mrs. Generazio and TNCC and are confident that our students will continue to meet with success through their efforts
- Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC)
VHCC Offering NCCER Certification
Students who complete the Electricity or Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating programs at Virginia Highlands Community College now have the opportunity to earn National Center of Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certification, a portable credential that is widely recognized throughout the construction industry.
Additionally, The Center for Business & Industry at VHCC is in the process of becoming an accredited training facility, which means it will be able to record NCCER certification information in a national registry. The registry is often used by those in the construction trades to find skilled employees who meet industry standards.
“We learned about NCCER certification from the Shaw Power Group, the construction firm that is building Dominion’s coal-fired power plant in Wise County,” said Melinda Leland, Dean of the Center for Business & Industry. “Our research indicated there are many benefits to this program. Not only will it give our graduates a competitive edge in the workforce, but we believe it could position Southwest Virginia as a target location for manufacturers.”
VHCC faculty members Mike Belcher, Ronnie Frye and Jim Kroll recently completed the NCCER training program and are in the process of incorporating the standards into the Electricity and Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating programs. Both Frye and Kroll also completed the NCCER curriculum entitled “Your Role in a Green Environment” and hope to offer that course later this summer.
NCCER is a not-for-profit education foundation created to develop industry-driven standardized craft training programs. Additional information about the organization is available at www.nccer.org.
- Virginia Western Community College (VWCC)
Laura Stevens joins Workforce Development
I am pleased to announce a new staff member has joined our Workforce Development Team. Laura Stevens is returning from her studies at ODU and has been reassigned to Workforce Development Services to represent Virginia Western at the new Roanoke Valley Workforce Center at Crossroads. Laura was a recipient of the Chancellor’s Fellowship in 2008/2009 and she will complete her M.S. in Business and Industry Training from Old Dominion University.
Laura’s first position with Virginia Western was in Student Support Services in March 05 where she assisted first generation college students. She transitioned to Admissions in May 2006. Her Student Support Services and Admissions experiences will provide the Roanoke Valley Workforce Center clients with valuable information about Virginia Western’s academic and workforce development programs.
Laura’s first day was Friday, May 15th at Roanoke Higher Education Center. A temporary office has been created on campus in our Workforce Development suite, 540-857-7216, Room F01D. Laura will be moving to the new Roanoke Valley Workforce Center in July. Please welcome Laura Stevens to our team!
Workforce Development Advancement held at The Franklin Center
Some folks organize a retreat, but Virginia Western Workforce Development held its recent Workforce Development Advancement to advance its strategic goals for 2009/2010. On May 8th 2009 staff and administrators from Greenfield Education and Training Center, Roanoke Higher Education Center, The Franklin Center and Virginia Western main campus met at The Franklin Center to identify important workforce development goals and initiatives. The2009 Advancement included the President of the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board, Executive Director of The Franklin Center, County Administrator of Franklin County and representatives from various Virginia Western departments. It is going to be an exciting Workforce Development year at Virginia Western!
System Office Updates
- "Summer Salads" benefit Great Expectations
 On June 25th the Systems Office hosted its Second Annual Summer Salad Luncheon to help raise funds for the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) focusing on Great Expectations, a program inspired by First Lady Anne Holton’s commitment to foster children and the ability of Virginia’s Community Colleges to help students obtain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the 21st century.
 Systems Office employees brought their favorite salad and desserts to share and enjoyed good conversations and a raffle. Carol Underhill introduced Vaconya Brown and Felecia Kurtz-Farrar, who shared their experiences in one of the Great Expectations pilot programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Overall, "Summer Salads" brought in over $500 for Great Expectations. Thank you to all who participated and coordinated this great event!
- VCCS Awards over $750,000 to colleges for career coaches
In the month of June, the VCCS awarded colleges over $750,000 in GEAR UP grants and Chancellor's Awards to support the Career Coach program. GEAR UP grants provide additional payroll hours, benefits, local and state travel and materials and supplies for community college career coaches based in high schools participating in the statewide GEAR UP program. The Chancellor's Awards confers upon the college a $15,000 VCCS grant as a cash match to support community college career coach salaries, benefits, local and state travel, and essential supplies and materials for use by coaches. Congratulations to this year's winning colleges.
- 2009 Hire Education Conference - Coming Soon!
On July 10, registration for the 2009 Workforce Development Peer Conference, the Hire Education Conference, will open online. This year's conference will be at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. Join workforce development peers, business leaders and statewide partners for three days of interactive, engaging and informative sessions, speakers and program.
Visit www.vccs.edu/workforce on July 10 for detailed information on hotel reservations, program agenda, session proposal submission forms and opportunities for exhibitors and sponsors.
Important Dates to Remember
July 10: 2009 Hire Education conference registration opens
Workforce Development Academy
The Workforce Development Professional Compentencies course will be held in Lebanon, VA from June 15-19, 2009 and Charlottesville, VA from August 3-7, 2009.
Contact Barbara Kessler for more information on the Workforce Development Academy.
? Check out the Virginia Workforce Network's quarterly newsletter, created by the Virginia Workforce Council.
|
|
|
Vice Chancellor Peter Blake's column
It’s hard to believe that the All-Star Game – the midway point of summer – is just two weeks away. Our efforts to heat up the economy through new federal investments and innovative workforce programs have become as intense as the pennant races. As we survey the green fields of workforce development, now more than ever we need to swing for the fences.
Our hard work in spring training and the first half of the season have prepared us for what lies ahead. Community colleges not only get people into the stadium, we also give Virginians the opportunity to win the game. Listen to what the managers and the press box pundits are saying:
President Barack Obama: “The economy is changing at a breathtaking pace, and we need different skills these days. In a moment when people are finding it harder and harder to get ahead, it’s time to call upon our community colleges once again.”
Republican nominee for governor, Bob McDonnell: “Bob McDonnell will make our community colleges the focus of a comprehensive workforce training system—one that is aligned with emerging economic trends and geared to identified employment opportunities in our fast-changing private sector.”
Democratic nominee for governor, Creigh Deeds: “Creigh’s plan would start by increasing capacity at community colleges because community colleges are within an hour’s drive of every Virginian.”
The Virginia Business Higher Education Council: “Virginia’s community college system is a uniquely valuable resource that can help many more Virginians gain the education and skills needed to succeed in life. The Commonwealth should expand the system’s capacity and focus on creating more job-skill retraining and industry-specific courses for workers of all ages throughout their lifetimes.”
As Red Barber might say, Virginia’s Community Colleges are in the catbird seat. What we do with this opportunity to serve more Virginians is up to us. This is no time for small ball. It’s time to rock the fences. Comments? Send them to Vice Chancellor, Peter Blake
|
|
|