EDUCATION
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The key question is , will students be able to earn a living wage or beyond a living wage ?
DR . FRANK KOBAYASHI VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTRUCTION , AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE
As the cost of a college education rises and unemployment numbers drop , up to one-third of people in a recent survey question whether getting a college degree is worth the time and expense . According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , there are 4 million fewer college students nationwide than a decade ago , while the recent census showed that 62 percent of adults over the age of 25 lack a four-year degree .
But with wider use of digital technology , artificial intelligence and robotics , even entry levels of so-called “ middle skill ” jobs still require expertise .
“ A good number of students need more focused technical training ,” says Dr . Frank Kobayashi , vice president of instruction at American River College . “ It might not be enough to have a high-school education and they don ’ t necessarily need a two-year degree .”
Aligning Programming with Employment Needs To fill the need for more training , Kobayashi oversees more than 150 Certificate and Career Education programs at ARC . Sierra College also offers a dozen Career Technical Education classes as well as three academy classes per year to train firemen , EMTs and medical assistants .
Both schools ’ diverse training programs are designed to provide practical , hands-on skills in fields like auto mechanics , the construction trades , hospitality and health care . The colleges design their vocational curricula with guidance from industry advisors and information from the Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research , which produces in-depth research that supports community college program development . “ We align our programs around the needs of regional employers because most of our students choose to stay here after graduation ,” says Dr . Amy Schulz , dean of Career , Continuing and Technical Education at Sierra College . The school partners with groups like the Sacramento Valley Manufacturing Alliance and local companies that are looking for skilled workers in fields such as advanced manufacturing , IT , cybersecurity and construction .
All of these programs , as well as others offered in the Capital Region by technical schools and nonprofits , share a common goal . “ The key question is , will students be able to earn a living wage or beyond a living wage ?” Kobayashi says .
Thirty-four percent of ARC ’ s 9,000 students are enrolled in Career Education classes . The school also offers one of the largest junior college apprenticeship programs in the state , which Kobayashi expects to be back to full capacity in the fall of 2022 after the pandemic restricted classroom enrollment .
Both Schulz and Kobayashi contend that the experience of working with vocational training instructors provides students with practical skills that employers are looking for .
“ They are experts in their field ,” Kobayashi says , adding that most of these instructors continue to work in their professions while they teach . “ They are not theoretical and they know what it takes to be successful .”
Training with Potential Employers Students at the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts have the opportunity to enter a growing industry with a huge demand for talent , according to Abraham Cicchetti , director of the school ’ s Sacramento campus .
“ There ’ s a shortage globally ,” Cicchetti says . “ The pandemic accelerated the retirement of Baby Boomers and that gap has opened up year after year .”
The Academy offers 15 training programs , ranging from seven to 24 months , for medical assistants , imaging clinicians and nurses . The majority of the training is provided by partners in the health care industry , including UC Davis , Sutter Health and Dignity Health . As a result , enrollment is matched to the number of people working in those facilities who are available to teach .
“ They assist in the training and employ a lot of students who graduate ,” says Cicchetti , whose most recent graduating class was 25 students .
82 comstocksmag . com | September 2022