business backgrounder | education & workforce
workforce education for WWCC . “ As a community college , we ’ re working to meet the needs of our region .”
The partnership between WWCC , one of 34 community and technical colleges in Washington , and Tyson , which has operations in 10 countries serving customers on five continents , began when Tyson needed more workers who could work with automation , robotics , and other advanced mechanical equipment . For Tyson , such a partnership is encouraged through the company ’ s 1 + 2 training program , which helps employees further their education to advance their careers with Tyson .
“ Every day , I have an opportunity to connect with our team members and a common question is about their growth within the company , “ said David Tobias , human resources manager at Tyson Foods ’ Wallula beef plant . “ Our 1 + 2 Program has provided the exact avenue of growth that they ’ re searching for and instilled a deep sense of pride and confidence after completing the program .”
The training partnership between WWCC and Tyson is supported by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges ( SBCTC ) Job Skills Program ( JSP ) grants received for 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 . Awarded to licensed educational institutions in Washington , the grant funding splits the cost with partner employers to provide worker training . It is meant to be a tool for spurring economic growth in areas : with industries that are new or rapidly growing ; where the job pool needs certain skills to remain employed ; and that are impacted by job loss on a large scale .
“ Every day , I have an opportunity to connect with our team members and a common question is about their growth within the company . “
— David Tobias , human resources manager at Tyson Foods beef plant , Wallula
Workforce education is one of the three main mission areas for the SBCTC , along with basic education for adults and academic transfer . According to SBCTC , 278,000 students in Washington take part in Workforce Education programs annually . At WWCC , about 54 percent of students list workforce training as their educational intent .
“ We ’ re constantly working with our industry partners and advisory committee members to identify the skills needed and refine our curriculum accordingly ,” Anhorn said .
Tyson needed employees to be trained in areas including hydraulics , welding and electricity . WWCC adopted a curriculum to meet those needs within the parameters of its one-year Industrial Electrical Maintenance Certificate program . Tyson employees who complete this program have both the skills to advance their careers and a staterecognized certificate needed for a variety of skilled labor positions . Dave Stockdale , director of Water & Environmental Center and Workforce Initiatives for WWCC , explained that an Industrial Electrical Maintenance Certificate prepares workers to perform maintenance ,
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