Partnership will boost job-oriented education in Warren County
June 2, 2011
Warren County Career Center Adult Education and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College are partnering to help students interested in careers in the electric power industry.
The two institutions will offer “one plus one” programs that marry the WCCC’s career training programs in advanced electrical occupations with those at Cincinnati State leading to an Associate of Technical Studies in electrical power technology.
The partnership gives students in Greater Cincinnati’s northern suburbs the advantage of taking their first year at WCCC, seeking industry certification as an electrical power line mechanic or as an electromechanical-PLC technician and gaining workforce skills. Then those students would apply those credits toward a second year of study at Cincinnati State, which would lead to not only an associate degree but, through the College’s co-op program, additional job experience as well.
“This is really a win for students, and frankly for us as well,’’ said Dr. O’dell M. Owens, president of Cincinnati State.
“We have been working hard to increase our presence in the northern suburbs,” Dr. Owens added. “This opens a big door. Our electrical engineering technologies program is one of our bedrock offerings. It is a pathway not only to traditional jobs in factories and commercial complexes throughout the region, but also for opportunities in renewable energy that will be opening up down the road.’’
WCCC Coordinator Ben Brigham said the partnership will offer practical benefits for many Warren County residents.
“For residents of Warren County and the surrounding area, classes will be closer to home and held in the evenings,’’ Brigham noted. “We have tentative plans to offer some of the second year Cincinnati State classes at WCCC. After students earn their certifications, they will be able to be employed and can work their way through to their degree.”
Larry Feist, Program Chair for Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology and Power Systems Engineering Technology at Cincinnati State, said the quality of the WCCC programs gives him confidence that the partnership will work smoothly.
"It is exciting to be able to reward graduates of an excellent program with one year worth of college credit," Feist said.
For those who successfully complete the two WCCC programs, the job placement rate is above 90 percent. Cincinnati State’s placement rates in corresponding programs are similar. Guidance counselors at both institutions say industry experts are predicting a strong job market in advanced industrial and utility electrical occupations due to retirements, but note that workers coming into the field will need to be highly skilled.
For more information about the programs, contact WCCC’s Ben Brigham at 513-932-8145 ext. 5272 or ben.brigham@mywccc.org or Cincinnati State’s Larry Feist at 513.569.1428 or larry.feist@cincinnatistate.edu.
