4 minute read
Two Days to Success: Redefining the Education-Employment Connection
from Lake Land Magazine
by Kelly Allee
We had to look at the programs and decide what was going to be best for our students and their potential employers.
Sometimes the best path forward has to be created. That is what Lake Land’s trades and technology instructors recently discovered as they appraised their programs in relation to stakeholder needs.
“With these programs, a lot of what we’ve seen in the past is you have to be able to work and learn at the same time, but that was hard for our students because they might’ve been in classes all day,” said Automotive Instructor and Program Coordinator Brian Madlem. “We had to look at the programs and decide what was going to be best for our students and their potential employers.”
This evaluation and commitment to re-imagined instruction paved the way for Tech 2 Day, a new class model that accommodates the needs of working students. With this program, students are required to attend classes just two days a week, opening their schedules to apply their knowledge in internships or apprenticeships.
The result is a collective win for the community. In two days of class, students learn in Lake Land’s industry standard labs and progress toward their educational goals at the same pace of a traditional timeline. The rest of the week, they enjoy a dependable work schedule, opportunities to establish relationships with employers and the ability to acquire industry experience prior to graduation. For employers, the program offers a pipeline of qualified workers into high-demand positions.
“It’s a plus-plus for both sides,” said Dion Buzzard, industrial technology instructor and program coordinator. “Students can come to school and also get a feel for what it’s like to work in a company and make money. Those companies also benefit because they need employees, and they like the opportunity to bring in students who are interested in the field.”
With this combination of knowledge and hands-on skills, graduates of the Tech 2 Day program will enjoy a head start in a wide variety of high demand careers including architecture and construction, electronics, technology, manufacturing and transportation.
“Our education system is constantly changing, so we have to be able to progress how students are taught and accepted into our programs,” said Kurt Hoene, building construction technology instructor and coordinator. “If we can benefit our students in any way possible, we want to do it. I think this program does just that.”
The Tech 2 Day program is a distinct solution, one that reshapes the relationship between education and employment. But perhaps more importantly, it is a solution made possible by a commitment to look beyond what was done before and consider what can be.
To learn more about how you can enroll, visit the Lake Land College Tech 2 Day program at lakelandcollege.edu/tech2day.
Apprenticeship Program Creates Opportunities for Career Advancement
Under the federally registered apprenticeship program, local companies partner with Lake Land College to develop customized educational programs specific to their workforce needs.
The program is a tremendous benefit to both students and employers. The students better their lives and expand their employment options with an education and a nationally-recognized credential, all while earning wages and gaining real experience. The employers benefit by investing in the growth of qualified employees in high-demand fields.
“This program creates the best of all worlds for everyone,” said Kris Kersey, industrial maintenance instructor and coordinator. “That’s just almost impossible to do, but the apprenticeship program does just that.”
Apprentice Adam Carter also praised the apprenticeship program for its role in helping him enhance the electrical and mechanical skills he uses every day in his job.
“I always want to expand my knowledge to try to get better at my job and share it with everyone I work with,” Carter said. “When this opportunity came about, I knew it was something I just couldn’t pass up.”
Students or business partners who have interest in registered apprenticeship programs should contact Bonnie Moore, director to the center for business and industry, at 217-238-8260 or send an email to bmoore71258@lakelandcollege.edu.
