Organizational example:

Organization/Program

Career Pathways Program
Portland Community College and Mt. Hood Community College
Portland, Oregon

Program Purpose

To provide career pathways programs for working adults who are likely to “stop in” and “stop out” of a traditional two- or four-year degree program.

Program Description

Portland Community College, in partnership with Mt. Hood Community College, has created modularized career pathways from adult education and workforce development programs to credit-level occupational/technical degree programs. The pathways provide multiple entry, exit and reentry points for a number of programs.

The degree programs are broken into modules or “chunks” of courses that are linked to credentials valued by employers. This allows working adults to achieve short-term career goals and advancement while working toward a degree. There are nine professional technical career pathways that prepare low-skilled adults for jobs or further education. Six bridge programs--Institutional Food Service, Health Care, Entry-Level High Tech Skills, Welding, Direct Care Worker, and Office Skills-- are geared toward non-native English speakers.

WIA provides some funding for the lower level modules, while students in the professional/technical pathways training can access financial aid since the modules are part of college degree programs.

The programs require continual analysis of the local labor market and strong partnerships with employers in order to identify skill needs and modules that are linked to meaningful credentials.

Progress

The career pathways trainings serve 225 to 250 people annually, and approximately 200 students enter internships each year. Two new professional technical and one new “bridge” pathway are under development.

Contact Information

Mt. Hood Community College
Steven R. Storla, Ph.D
Career Pathways Coordinator (for Non-Native Speaker and Mainstream programs)
Adult Basic Skills Department
Mt. Hood Community College
26000 SE Stark St.
Gresham, OR  97030
T: 503.491.7251
Steven.Storla@mhcc.edu

http://www.mhcc.edu/pages/1083.asp

Portland Community College
Kathleen Kuba
Education Coordinator
Vocational Trainings for Non-Native English Speakers
Portland Community College

T: 503.788.6287
kkuba@pcc.edu

Portland Community College
Laurie Chadwick
Education Coordinator for Criminal Justice, Emergency Telecommunicator, Medical Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy, and Professional Development for the Changing World of Work
T: 503.788.6233
Laurie.Chadwick@pcc.edu

Portland Community College
Andrew Roessler
Education Coordinator for Accounting/Bookkeeping, Computer Technology Support Specialist, HVAC Installation, Machine Manufacturing, and Retail Management
T: 503.788.6271
aroessle@pcc.edu

http://www.pcc.edu/services/index.cfm/157,html