Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Refresh, Refocus, Restart by AliciaWanek RICHLAND COLLEGE OFFERS CAREER PROGRAMS TO FIT YOU Dallas’ “best kept secret” may not be a restaurant gem or a trendy boutique but instead an innovative approach to career and technical education, right in our own backyard. Whether you want to refresh your skills for the job you already have (we all know how quickly technical advancements are being made in every field), refocus your efforts to train for a more specialized career in your current field, or restart on a new career path altogether, you’ll likely find beneficial career training in one of Richland’s technical degree or certificate programs. Students in one of four clusters – business, computers, health professions, or engineering and manufacturing - are benefiting from a new approach to the way classes are structured to prepare them for the real world with very specialized training in everything from digital forensics, management, and pharmacy technician to accounting, and, for some, it will help them move on to a four-year university. These Associate of Applied Science programs are structured in terms of what Rose Galloway, Richland Associate Vice President calls “stackable credits.” For example, a student in engineering technology can work toward certificates in computer-aided design, electronics technology, and manufacturing on their way to earning their AAS. Rose says these “meta-majors” help to establish pathways that ensure students are taking the right courses to prepare them for their career. “We were finding that many students were getting to four-year universities with up to 20 credit hours they didn’t need.” This approach prevents that from happening. The program is getting the attention of local industry. For example, The TEAM Center (Technology Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing), through funding by Texas Instruments and a TAACCCT grant (Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training) has been able to renovate almost an entire floor of one building to establish state- of-the-art facilities in manufacturing and robotics. Student Monica Lee appreciates the hands-on experience she’s getting. “It really lets you know how manufacturing is done. Even if you go in to an area like design, you know how to operate the machinery so you can plan a job and all that goes into it to meet customer’s needs.” Brian Fleming, Faculty and Manufacturing Coordinator says, “It’s one thing to create something on the computer and another to see and participate in manufacturing it.” Ultimately, the goal is to get the training for the career of your dreams. Richland instructors suggest, “Many of our graduates experience tremendous opportunities for growth, advancement, and higher incomes…” after completing their AAS degree. One recent program graduate said, “Enrolling in Richland’s Management Program was a great experience for me. I gained a wealth of knowledge that helped me to earn a promotion on my job.” The countless student success stories are a testament to the quality of the education and the instructors in all the programs. It doesn’t sound like these educational opportunities will stay a “best kept secret” much longer. For more information on Richland’s career and technical education, contact Rose Galloway at rgalloway@dcccd.edu. Ultimately, the goal is to get the training for the career of your dreams.