Commentary: Just a few short years ago, Emily Conner made a decision that would set her on the path to a new career and a different life. The mother of two, already a 2003 college graduate with work experience in marketing, decided to start college all over again. She enrolled in DACC’s Dental Hygiene Program in 2016 and never looked back. Today, Emily is not only a registered dental hygienist serving our community, she’s a part-time clinical instructor in DACC’s dental hygiene clinic.
Caitlin Frugoli graduated from Arrowhead Park Early College High School in 2019. As a high school student, Caitlin enrolled in dual-credit classes at DACC. She earned an associate degree in Civil/Survey Technology at the same time she earned her high school diploma. She now works at a local engineering and surveying firm as a CAD drafting technician while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering Technology at NMSU. Caitlin is scheduled to graduate in December, just two-and-a-half years after completing high school.
Traveling different routes, both Emily and Caitlin found the same destination, a career technical education (CTE) program at Doña Ana Community College.
Career technical education prepares students for employment by helping them develop core academic, job-specific, and employability skills needed to be successful in the workforce. At DACC, close to 30 CTE programs offer more than 100 certificate and associate degree options. In those programs, students have the opportunity to learn in a hands-on environment from faculty who have work experience in industry. Many of these programs also offer students the opportunity to earn “industry-recognized credentials,” which verify achievement of specific skills and competencies.
In 2021, we find ourselves at a moment that highlights the value of career technical education. Many people have been displaced from the workforce by changes in the COVID economy. New Mexico Workforce Solutions recently reported gains in unemployment rates in the state: from 4.8.% in December 2019 to 8.2% in December 2020. Simply put, many are in need of new jobs and new careers.
Other developments emerging in our society also point to new jobs and new careers, including cybersecurity and energy production. Community colleges, like DACC, help those looking for new careers to identify their interests, develop their skills, and enter the workforce.
As I noted earlier, career technical education is noted for its “hands-on” approach to education. Students apply what they learn in up-to-date laboratories guided by people with “real world” experience. But another hallmark of career technical education is its connection to business and industry, a connection that is mutual and multi-faceted.
At DACC, programs regularly consult advisory councils comprised of over 500 representatives from local business and industry. Council members advise the college of developments in their industries, and that information allows DACC to adapt programs to ensure that our graduates can be competitive in the marketplace.
Many businesses in our community offer internships for DACC students. This work-based learning accelerates student development of technical and employability skills they will need when they enter the workforce full-time.
While Emily’s and Caitlin’s paths led them to Dental Hygiene and Civil/Survey Technology, there are many other destinations at DACC. I encourage community members to explore what we offer. And for those looking for financial assistance, DACC offers scholarships, grants, and loans. Many DACC programs also qualify for funding through the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA).
As we celebrate Career Technical Education Month, I think about something Emily Conner said, “DACC may be your first stop, your only stop, or your ‘college-round-two’ stop, but no matter what, there you will find the resources you need to succeed.”