Preparing Alaskans for Alaska's jobs
by Scott McCrea, Tanana Valley Campus

It wasn't too long ago that 33-year-old Shannon O'Kelley, a student in the University of Alaska Fairbanks Tanana Valley Campus Information Technology Specialist program didn't even know how to turn on a computer. After all, computers weren't needed much in her former occupation as a bartender, where a port was a type of wine and a chip was something you served in bags to go with a beer. But when she lost her job due to an injury, Shannon decided it was time to change her profession.

"I chose the program because I knew nothing about computers. They intimidated me," said Shannon. "But computers are everywhere you go today, and I knew that I couldn't let them intimidate me if I wanted to survive in today's business world."

A mother of two, Shannon only has one more class to take before completing her degree, but she has already reaped benefits from the program. In August of 2001, after her first year, she began working part-time at Monroe High School teaching one computer class and monitoring the school's computer lab. She is now the full-time systems administrator for Monroe and Immaculate Conception School. "When I started school, I didn't even know how to turn a computer on," she said. "Now I teach kids how to use them and maintain all the computers at the school."

TVC has prided itself on its mission of successfully preparing students like Shannon for Alaska's jobs, since opening its doors as the Tanana Valley Community College in the early 1970s. With more than 40 certificate and associate degree programs in subjects ranging from applied business and accounting to welding and materials technology, interior Alaska's very own community campus works closely with various industries to be sure that its students receive training and education relevant to present and future state workforce needs.

TVC provides workforce development training beyond the certificate or associate degree level through abbreviated career-specific program. Examples include the TVC Law Enforcement Academy and the Certified Public Manager Program.

Partnerships Key to Success
A cooperative partnership with industries is vital to a successful workforce development program, says TVC Director Jake Poole. "In order for us to prepare students for jobs that meet the state's needs, we need to know what those needs are," said Poole. Industry leaders provide valuable information to the university such as future employment opportunities and the type of training workers need to take advantage of those opportunities. That information is then used to develop curriculum for the programs, as well as to identify any specific technology or equipment needs.

In many cases, industries also provide financial support or equipment donations. The Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, for instance, is donating $45,000 annually over the next three years to support TVC's allied health programs and is providing clinical space for the TVC/UAA radiologic technology program.As the above chart illustrates, jobs in the health care industry are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations in Alaska over the next several years. TVC's Allied Health programs, which include medial assistant, dental assistant, phlebotomy, medical/dental receptionist and healthcare reimbursement, were all created to help meet the high employment needs of the health care industry. Over the last three years, TVC has partnered with the University of Alaska Anchorage to offer the radiologic technology program as well as a two-year registered nursing and licensed practical nursing program.

"The university could not provide for those needs on its own, and the health care industry could not provide for those needs on its own," said Poole. "But by working together, and by creating a dynamic private/public partnership that has a common goal of enhancing Alaska's workforce, we can make it happen."

Instructors Have Working Knowledge
Poole says that success in workforce development comes not just from partnerships with industries, but also from ensuring that the instructors who teach the various classes have a working knowledge of their respective professions.

"We have close to 150 adjunct instructors who teach for us each year," said Poole. "Many of them are people within the Fairbanks community who have full-time jobs, and we hire them to share their knowledge and expertise with our students. We have culinary arts classes taught by professional chefs, paralegal classes taught by lawyers, accounting classes taught by business owners, early childhood classes taught by daycare owners, and so forth."

Grads Earn More Money
TVC has also found that its workforce development oriented programs not only give students the tools they need to get a job, but also arm them with the skills to increase their earnings. A recent study by the Alaska Department of Labor and the University of Alaska Office of Statewide Institutional Research shows that students who completed a vocational certificate or associate degree from the University of Alaska in 2001 realized an average increase in salary of 47 percent.

Meeting the Needs of Non-traditional Students
Like Shannon, many students at TVC are adults who have been in the workforce for awhile and are attempting to juggle college life with a job and raising a family. As a result, TVC offers a majority of its courses at convenient times for its main demographics, including evenings, weekends, and online. In addition, services such as the TVC Student Assistance Center work one-on-one with students to help them make the transition into college as well as helping them achieve their academic career goals.

Students like Shannon are quick to praise the support offered by TVC's instructors. "I think the instructors are the greatest. They are very helpful and willing to go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals," she said.

She serves up this advice to other adult students who are thinking of going back to school: "Don't be afraid to go back to school and do what you always wanted to do. I am doing better in school as an adult than I ever did as a kid. It may be a bit hard, but it is so rewarding and worth every late night of studying!"

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