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ARC Grant Will Fund Career Counseling
Center
Alabama Governor Bob Riley has notified officials at Northeast
Alabama Community College
that $100,000 in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funds
have been reserved for the
college to establish a career counseling center. This Center, in
particular, will assist students in selecting career fields in
order to become productive participants in the workforce.
“We are very appreciative for this opportunity,” stated Dr.
David Campbell, NACC President. “America is changing
dramatically in regard to careers and the training needed to
pursue them. This grant and resulting center will be beneficial
in helping us guide students into the workplace of the future.”
The funds will permit Northeast to establish a Career Center on
campus and hire a counselor to work with students in making
career decisions. Counselors in the Career Center will work
closely with high school counselors, GED Instructors, local
employers, and students to disseminate information regarding
careers and educational opportunities. Personnel staffing the
Center also will administer career interest inventories; help
with resume writing and job search skills, and job placement.
“The counselor will, of course, work in helping students decide
on careers that require four-year degrees and beyond as well,”
Campbell stated. “Reports have shown that there are shortages in
many fields requiring four-year degrees, such as education and
engineering. Northeast has a very strong academic transfer
program and the counselor will advise students on careers in
these areas as well.” Campbell noted that NACC is a part of an
articulation agreement that guarantees that core classes are
accepted for transfer to Alabama’s public four-year colleges and
universities. Athens State University operates a university
center on campus at which students may obtain their four-year
degrees at Northeast through classroom and online courses in
specific fields. Additionally, the college recently signed an
articulation agreement that permits students to complete their
baccalaureate degrees online through Troy University.
“Our personnel particularly will work with local school leaders
to provide students with information on careers in technical
fields,” said Dr. Joe Burke, NACC Vice-President and Dean of
Instruction. “Those of us in education are well aware that
students need to be informed of opportunities in these technical
fields, the jobs of the future, as early as middle school. We
want them to know early the great opportunities that are out
there.” Burke and Julia Everett, NACC Librarian, headed
committees that prepared the ARC grant. Tonie Niblett, Dean of
Student Services, will supervise and coordinate the Career
Center with assistance from Mike Kennamer, NACC Director of Job
Skills Training and Workforce Development. “This is another
important student service that we at Northeast look forward to
providing,” Dean Niblett stated. “Deciding on a career often is
very challenging for students and this will help them in that
process greatly.” College officials hope to have the Career
Center in operation for the Summer Semester term. Campbell noted
that NACC Administrative Assistant Nancy Griggs also was very
instrumental in assisting with the Career Center planning and
grant application.
Northeast also is partnering with other community colleges in
the Alabama Workforce Development Regional Council 2 District on
a grant proposal that will provide career coaches to area
students. These career coaches will work with students in local
schools as early as the seventh grade to provide them with
information and guidance in choosing careers in technical
fields. NACC officials have received the assistance of area
school superintendents in efforts to establish this counseling
program. College officials note that this counseling service
will greatly benefit students in selecting technical careers and
work hand-in-hand with the NACC Career Center. “The Career
Coaches concept is a very innovative approach to not only
helping students choose good careers, but in improving the
overall quality of the workforce in North Alabama,” Campbell
stated.
“We in education and industry are trying to better inform
students and their parents about job opportunities that are now
available in technical fields,” Campbell added. “There always
have been some very good careers in these areas, but the way our
economy is changing, there are going to be more and more
opportunities in technical fields.”
Mike Kennamer pointed out, “Currently, the Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA) is recruiting for their training programs. These
training programs require a 2-year technical degree, and those
selected for the program earn approximately $40,000 to $60,000
per year just during training. We are also looking forward to
new job opportunities in technical fields that will be provided
by the planned Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga.”
For more information about the programs and services at
Northeast, explore this website and contact the offices listed.
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