By: Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Interim Chancellor of the Maricopa Community Colleges
As society advances, the higher education landscape has also progressed. In an ultra competitive postsecondary world, community colleges have begun to transform by working hand in hand with industry – developing pathways that expeditiously meet their workforce needs. This shift in fast-track programs is not only celebrated by industry, but also meets the personal and professional interests of college-goers who are oftentimes in search of quick reskilling and upskilling opportunities to get them into the workforce making a livable wage. The Maricopa County Community College District, which includes 10 regionally accredited colleges serving residents across Maricopa county, has recently launched several innovative programs that revolutionize the way higher education and industry interact while providing students unmatched hands-on career experiences.
Advancing Entrepreneurship
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and the Maricopa Community Colleges have recently introduced an inventive program called Advancing Entrepreneurs Ready for Opportunities or “AERO” which ties the needs of small business with hungry student entrepreneurs and innovators. AERO, powered by Riipen and managed by the Arizona Small Business Development Center (AZSBDC) Network is a business to-business marketplace which matches aspiring entrepreneurs with small business owners to complete short-term projects in areas such as marketing or finance. This innovative model, funded by Wells Fargo’s Advancing Entrepreneurship, will organically lift students through the financial stipends they receive for their services and support small business’ ability to obtain intellectual capital services at an affordable price.
Fast Track Certificates
This post secondary progression has pushed the Maricopa Community Colleges toward current market trends that dictate a focus beyond traditional associate degrees and certificates. In fall of 2023, the Maricopa Community Colleges will offer their first set of bachelor degree programs in high-demand workforce areas at a fraction of the university or private institution price point. The District has also focused on the development of fast-track programs, where students can be dream-job ready in as little as a few weeks. They are a fast, affordable way to help students transition into a new career or stay competitive in specific industries. These fast-track programs are developed with industry at the table, and often lead to a higher earning potential, more employment opportunities, and result in industry-recognized credentials. Pivoting to meet the needs of industry and interests of students has become a new and celebrated way of business at the Maricopa Community Colleges.
Route to Relief
To curb the professional regression exhibited through the pandemic and feed Arizona’s greatest labor needs, the District partnered with the City of Phoenix to create “Route to Relief”, a program supported by the City’s federal pandemic relief dollars to provide free tuition, monthly stipends, and employment assistance for eligible programs across the ten Maricopa Community Colleges in high-demand workforce areas such as semiconductors, healthcare, bioscience, manufacturing, and information technology to eligible individuals.
Semiconductor Technician Quick Start Program (May 2022)
Semiconductor Technician Quick Start
To support the employment needs in the semiconductor industry, Maricopa Community Colleges partnered with Intel Corporation to develop the Semiconductor Technician Quick Start program. This accelerated two week program prepares students with hands-on learning from industry-experienced professors for careers as a Semiconductor Technician. Students completing these rapid training programs have job opportunities starting at $22 to $25 an hour at employers like Intel and the Taiwainese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The goal of this semiconductor strategy is to provide immediate entry into technician-level employment with options to continue the upskilling journey to an associate, bachelor’s, and beyond. This will not only develop this critical workforce, but also serve as a means to recruit, retain, and elevate students’ earnings.
Learn More
Maricopa Community Colleges play a vital role in enhancing the region’s economic occupational strength by connecting students and employers through a variety of workforce development programs including Advancing Entrepreneurship, Fast Track Certificates, Route to Relief, and Semiconductor Technician Quick Start. These innovative pathways are cultivating and preparing students for high-demand high-paying jobs while working collectively and responsibly with industry professionals and employers to meet the lifelong learning needs of the community. At the affordable price of $85 per credit hour (or $1020 for a typical full-time 12 credit-hour semesterly student), with employment opportunities well above the median salary, enrolling in the Maricopa Community Colleges is the answer to our state’s skilled workforce disparity. Learn more about the innovative ways that the Maricopa Community Colleges are supporting workforce development by visiting www.maricopa.edu.
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