SwVCC Works to Provide Training for New Industries
 

Southwest Virginia Community College is working to provide training for CGI-AMS and Northrop Grumman, the new high-tech companies that have recently decided to locate in Russell County. The classes will be offered on campus and at the SwVCC Lebanon Center.

“Dr. Rachel Fowlkes, executive director of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, and officials at SwVCC have worked in close partnership to create courses and curricula that will prepare students for careers in computer-related occupations at these two industries,” said Dr. Charles King, president of SwVCC.

“The economic base of the region has been shifting from coal to include manufacturing. We are now seeing opportunities in high-tech industries opening up to people in the region,” said King. Dr. Barbara Fuller, dean of the Business Division at Southwest and a member of the CGI-AMS Workforce Advisory Taskforce, echoes his thought “it is important to prepare a world-class workforce that is proficient in the type of technological skills that these employers want and need. The result is a highly skilled, highly paid employee.”

One of the ways that SwVCC is reaching out to the region in providing this type of high-level training is through the region’s school systems. The College is working with the school systems to provide high school students with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of courses for dual enrollment. Very simply, dual enrollment courses allow high school students to enroll in selected courses and receive both high school and college credits. The credits are then transferred to SwVCC into targeted programs. Courses such as Introduction to C+++ Programming, Network Concepts, Java Programming I, and Structured Query Language, and more are offered to interested students.

“High school students have had an opportunity for a number of years to enroll in the CISCO Training Academy at various high schools around the region with the training being provided through Southwest,” said Peggy Barber, dean of the SwVCC Engineering Division. These students, if they complete the program, are prepared for careers in computer systems operations.

“Southwest offers a variety of both classes and curricula in the computer technology field,” said James Dye, assistant professor of information systems technology/administrative support technology. “We are offering an Associate of Applied Science degree in Information System Technology, as well as a variety of Career Studies Certificates such as Network and Database Administration and Software Development.” Dye will be providing some training for high school teachers so that they will be able to teach these classes within their school systems.

“The economic climate is changing,” said Dr. Charles King, president of SwVCC. “The globalization of the world through technology, such as the personal computer and the Internet, has made possible new career opportunities. By working together -educational institutions, government agencies, legislators and others, we can create a workforce that will encourage more high-tech industries to locate in our region.”