2009 SWCC News

Barbara and Linda

Dr. Barbara Fuller, (left) dean of the business division at Southwest Virginia Community College, and Linda Allen, (right) director of the Southwest Regional Adult Education program, are shown receiving the Southwest Virginia Technology Council’s 2009 High Technology Excellence in Education Award.

 Southwest Virginia Community College and the Southwest Regional Adult Education program were recently presented the High Technology Excellence in Education Award at the Southwest Virginia Technology Council’s 2009 Annual Banquet. SWCC partnered with the Southwest Regional Adult Education program to deliver a six month, innovative, contextualized GED technology program entitled, PlugGED In.

The idea for PlugGED In was proposed by Virginia’s former Secretary of Technology, Aneesh Chopra and is a pilot project under the direction of Dr. Richard Sebastian from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Literacy Institute and the Virginia Department of Education. The Governor’s Productivity Investment Fund provided the means for the Literacy Institute to provide oversight of the project. The Virginia Community College System provided funds in support of the project through the Chancellor’s E-learning Enhancement Development (CEED) grant.

The PlugGED In curriculum was created through a partnership of educational and governmental institutions in response to the current adult literacy crisis and the increased need to prepare adults for jobs in the technology-driven economy. It provides learners who have not completed high school, with a GED course that incorporates information technology skills essential for entry-level employment in global, knowledge-driven, technology-rich jobs. These skills include specialized technology reflected in earned Microsoft certifications and “soft skills” such as communication, workplace ethics, collaboration and innovation.
The uniqueness of the project is that the GED is only the first credential which the students earn within the six month timeframe. In order to be competitive in the job market, the students will earn the Work Keys Career Readiness Certificate. Microsoft certifications which they will earn include: Microsoft Digital Literacy (MCDL), Internet and Core Computing (IC3), Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) and Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST).

The program began in February 2009 and ten (10) students are currently enrolled. 100 % of the participants have completed their GED and their Digital Literacy Certification. 90% percent have completed one or more IC3 Microsoft Certifications. 100% have dually enrolled in 24 college credits for the six month timeframe. One-fourth (25%) have enrolled for fall semester college classes in the Information Systems Technology program. Approximately eighty percent (80%) plan to continue their education while gainfully employed by an IT industry.

Additional partners with the project include the Center for Innovative Technology, Microsoft, UVA-Wise, Northrop Grumman and CGI. CGI and Northrop Grumman have provided mentors for the participants and have conducted mock interviews in preparation as a bridge to possible employment in one of these companies. Northrop Grumman has guaranteed an interview for each participant who completes the program.

SWCC and Southwest Regional Adult Education plan to offer the program again next year in Russell and Dickenson Counties. Due to the success of project, there has been discussion at the state level of replicating the project in four (4) states.