Less than one third of adult Californians have received education beyond high school. If a modest 26.6% of the population are attaining a Bachelor’s degree or higher, a majority (73.4%) are taking a different path. Now, as much or more than any time in history, the need to offer alternatives to college degrees is heightened, and Continuing Education is meeting the need.
The expanded Continuing Education Skills Center opened at the Educational Cultural Complex campus in November 2009. The Skills Center has the largest automotive technology program of its kind in the nation. The campus has capacity to serve 3,000 students per academic year, and provides free job training for industries that offer real jobs—even in a struggling economy.
The San Diego Workforce Partnership reports projections into 2016 for careers with growth areas in San Diego County. The list includes Automotive Service Technicians at 7.4%, and Auto Body Repair Technicians at 6.5%. These are examples of real numbers for jobs in an economy where many industries have a zero projection for growth, or even show negative growth as people continue to lose jobs, or have trouble finding jobs because their skills are outdated.
Other examples of jobs with projected growth include Computer Specialists at 12.7% and Accountants at 16%. The expanded Skills Center offers free classes in these areas, plus free job training and certificate programs for Office Skills (e.g. Front Desk/Office Assistant and Administrative Assistant) and Cisco Academy, which prepares students to take the Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) exam, leading to certification, real jobs, and real wages at $20-40 per hour.
Free job training is the foundation people need to find jobs, but the work doesn’t end in the classroom. Dozens of local community partners collaborate with the District, including the SEDC, the Coalition of Neighborhood Councils (CNC), and the Urban League. It is the collaboration of these many community partners that ultimately put people to work.
“By taking advantage of the free training classes offered by Continuing Education, many under-employed residents of our Southeastern community will be able to pursue new career opportunities, or seek a promotion from their current employer,” says Brian Trotier, Executive Director, Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC). “The combination of classroom teaching and hands-on experience gives students a real competitive edge in a difficult job market,” he says.
The CNC is committed to the redevelopment of southeastern San Diego, and recognizes that comprehensive community development must create greater access to education. The development of a Skills Center at ECC has been a priority for the CNC, and they have identified its completion in their organization's strategic plan.
The Urban League refers to economic empowerment as a key for community members achieving self-sufficiency, which includes job training. "Having a meaningful job and a steady income is the catalyst that will enable our residents to transform their community into a thriving center of activity that is safe and healthy for their families," says Ray King, President and CEO, Urban League of San Diego County.
The SDCCD has historically made tremendous impact on local San Diegans. Whether educating students seeking Associate Degrees; transitioning them to four-year universities, or training them for jobs, the District has influenced tens of thousands of local lives and families. A never-ending commitment to education and job training, are examples of how the District continues to influence and provide opportunities to help San Diegans explore options that include college degrees, as well as alternatives.