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Business Journal PO Box 510 Salisbury, MD 21803-0510
Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce
Vol. 17 No. 1
Dedicated to the Principles of Free Enterprise
August 2013
Dual enrollment on the Shore is new opportunity By Al Higgins
Fruitland
The City of Fruitland has much to boast about, including its friendly, hometown atmosphere. Pages 28-34
Dream job
Delmarva Veteran Builders is a dream come true for this veteran. Page 8
Small Business
MCE celebrates Small Business Week in a big way,
Page 26
INSIDE
SACC PATRONS
Barometer.................................... 38 Business After Hours............15, 25 Business Directory.................36-37 Calendar...................................... 11 Chambers Listing.......................... 4 Education ................................... 10 Healthcare................................... 22 Investing........................................ 6 Membership Renewals.................. 4 Member Spotlight........................ 16 New Members............................... 5 Membership Division..................... 5 Salisbury University..................... 35 Viewpoint....................................... 3
FOCUS ON EDUCATION - This edition of the Salisbury Business Journal focuses on educational trends and opportunities. The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce has highlighted “education” as a stand-alone category and will focus on expanding dual enrollment initiatives, mentoring opportunities, and the Chamber’s annual career day event. Above is Salisbury University’s Holloway Hall. Along with cover stories, additional coverage begins on page 17.
Preparing students for the job market is a top priority
By Al Higgins
We’ve all heard it said that if you graduate from college with a degree in history or English that upon graduation you had better be prepared to sell vacuum cleaners or life insurance. This is not exactly a true statement but it does reflect the difficulties of finding meaningful employment upon graduation from college. However, local institutions of higher education are striving to prepare their students for the current job market. Dr. Nickolas Blanchard, Dean of the School of Pharmacy at UMES, is excited about several student studies that lead to meaningful employment. “Our School of Pharmacy leads to a Doctorate degree and our graduating class this year saw 100 percent employment upon graduation,” he said. “It is a very
competitive program, with 10 students applying for each seat. Graduates of our Physical Therapy doctorate degree program” he went on, “also gained 100 percent employment upon graduation.” Another exciting course of study is that of a Physician’s Assistant. The State of Maryland will require all PA’s to have a master degree by the year 1015 and UMES has 37 students currently enrolled in that program. Students entering the program must possess a bachelors’ degree in one of the sciences. UMES had been working with IBM for several years in an effort to prepare students for careers in the IT field. IBM offers internships and co-op positions to students, as well as providing IBM engineers as guest lecturers. Modifications to UMES’ business and Continued to page 17
There are a lot of very bright kids on the Lower Shore. Many of them have aspirations to attend college upon graduating from high school, but some are already getting a feel for the collegiate lifestyle. Through the Maryland State Department of Education kids are able to take college courses while still in high school. The program is called Dual Enrollment and has been in existence for decades, but it is becoming increasingly popular with the involvement of Wor-Wic Community College and the passage of the College and Career Readiness and College Completion Act of 2013. The legislation went into effect on July 1, 2013 and significantly enhances dual enrollment practices in Maryland. High school students can earn credits upon completion of college courses. “At Wor-Wic a three-credit course is being offered at a cost of $230.40 vs. the normal rate of $324, for public school students for the first 4 courses,” said Wor-Wic President Ray Hoy. “The per course rate then increases to $252 for each course. Students of private schools pay $252 per course. Students who qualify for free and reduced meals pay only about $36 per course.” The law is written to allow high school kids in the eleventh or twelfth grades for inclusion in the dual enrollment program. “We average about 200 students per year in the dual enrollment program,” said Hoy. “Unfortunately, the new legislation did not pass in time for many disadvantaged kids to apply for courses this year.” Continued to page 18