Time will tell whether Durham Tech program fills employers' needs

By Neil Offen

noffen@heraldsun.com; 419-6646

DURHAM -- The dozen or so students in Dan Sullivan's Biomanufacturing Process Technician class at Durham Tech peered intently at the giant circuit boards in front of them, learning how relays work.

They saw more, however, than thin copper foil and a labyrinth of wires.

They saw jobs.

The class is one of seven Durham Tech has launched as part of its JobsNOW program, short-term training classes designed to meet local employer needs. The program kicked off last semester, with classes in training to become a nursing assistant/health unit coordinator and a medical coder; three new classes have already begun this semester, with two more still to come next month.

The classes have been a big hit -- 134 students have signed up for them, with most of the classes fully enrolled. The majority of enrolled students come from the ranks of the unemployed, local residents looking to learn new skills so they can find a new job.

But the results of the program are still to be determined.

"We're just now still getting ramped up," said Kelly King, the program coordinator for JobsNOW. "What we know so far, though, does indicate that the program will be a success, although we won't be able to say 'mission accomplished' until at least around June."

Of the 13 students who completed the nurse training class, which ran from September through December and is the only training class that has been completed, one already has a job, at a nursing home, and another is scheduled for a second interview at UNC Hospitals.

"The majority of the other individuals who graduated are just now beginning their job search," King said.

The goal of the program, which is being implemented by community colleges across the state, is to prepare local residents to meet specific employment needs in their areas -- in this case, Durham and Orange counties -- with training that takes six months or less.

At Durham Tech, the program offers courses designed to help students get jobs in a number of careers, including green landscape design, solar energy technician, under-car care technician, industrial maintenance technician and as a phlebotomist, a person who collects blood.

In addition to the training, the JobsNOW program also includes career readiness certification, workplace skills development, skills assessment, career exploration and college placement testing.

"I would love every single participant to find employment," said King, "but that's not something we can control. Our intent is to provide an expedited manner for people to receive a new credential or skill for a market where we do know jobs are available. That's what we're doing."