Kaskaskia College uniquely celebrates Career & Technical Education Month

KC renames Crisp Center to reflect student preparedness for the workforce

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, and Kaskaskia College is celebrating its role in helping students prepare for vital jobs in the workforce. KC continues to place an emphasis on Career and Technical Education, offering 45 degrees and 65 certificates in various disciplines.

KC recently renamed the Harry L. Crisp Technology Center to the Harry L. Crisp Manufacturing and Trades Center, where students learn real-world techniques and lessons to prepare for careers in CTE fields.

Dean of Workforce Engagement and Industrial Trades Joy Fitts said a focus on changing the name is to highlight that Kaskaskia College offers programs in manufacturing and skilled trades. Many in the area don’t realize these training programs are available, and manufacturing is one of the leading industries in the KC district. Dean of Career and Technical Education Traci Masau added CTE programs offer hands-on, real-world experience that students can use to impact their local communities immediately after completing training, a certificate or a degree.

“There has recently been a shift from where people thought you had to get a four-year bachelor’s degree to now people know careers in CTE are important and high paying,” Masau said. “We recently completed our economic impact study, and most of the top 10 industries in our district are CTE-related. Our programs at KC work directly with businesses and industry leaders in our community to guarantee students are learning the most current and needed skills. Many of our students are hired before they even graduate because of the relationships our instructors have with professionals in our district. The Career and Technical Education to workforce pipeline is very real.”

Agriculture, business, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, IT and trades all fall under the CTE umbrella. Many students at KC can get a certificate in less than a year, or a degree in two years, and immediately go to work in a high-skill, high-demand job that pays well.

“A lot of people are looking at the cost of education in relation to affordability, student debt and jobs,” Masau said. “At KC and other community colleges, we are really important because we’re training for both entry and high-skill jobs that are in demand without our students being riddled in debt for a long time. During CTE Month and throughout the year, it’s vital students and families throughout the region explore CTE opportunities.”

Students of all ages at KC can also elect to participate in non-credit workforce development. Under this program, students learn essential skills and earn credentials they can instantly use in their field of work. Even when individuals are currently employed, they can still stop by KC to upskill or reskill, instantly improving their impact at work and leading to higher wages.

For more information about all of Kaskaskia College’s CTE programs, visit:  www.kaskaskia.edu/academics/find-a-program.

 

Kaskaskia College is a public community college in Centralia, Ill., within South Central Illinois District 501, serving all or part of nine counties, including Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Marion, Washington, Jefferson, St. Clair, Madison, and Montgomery. Committed to making education accessible, they host the Centralia Crisp Technology Center and have education centers in Greenville, Nashville, Salem, Trenton, and Vandalia, Ill. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the college, which offers a broad spectrum of degrees, programs, and certification options, specializing in two-year associate degrees and trade school programs. Founded in 1940, Kaskaskia College was the first Class I Community College established in Illinois.