Prof Tech Profile #10: Nurse Assistant

Byron Ford, Educational Planner

Today's Prof Tech Profile is on Green River's one-quarter Nurse Assistant program and features a brief Q and A with Byron Ford, Educational Planner extraordinaire for Health Occupations.

Hi Byron. Thanks for joining us on the blog. To start, can you provide readers with an overview of the Nurse Assistant program at GRCC?

Byron: A nurse assistant is one who completes an educational program and can be eligible to take an exam. Once the exam is passed the nurse assistant becomes a Certified Nurse Assistant. Certified Nurse Assistants will provide services to healthcare clients around daily living needs such as teeth and mouth care, eating, bathing, dressing, walking, and assisting out of bed and into a chair. They will also assist the healthcare client with memory / physical exercises to maintain their level of ability. They may seek and receive employment in assisted living facilities, long term care facilities, home care, and adult care centers. Applications for the Nurse Assistant program will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis. Once the program is full, there will be a waitlist for that quarter. Students on the waitlist that are not admitted into the program will need to re-apply for the following quarter. The program cost follows regular GRCC tuition and fees for a 12 credit load.

What type of person is a good fit for the Nurse Assistant program?

Byron: The Nurse Assistant Certification (NAC) program is ideal for students who would like short-term training that will get them started into healthcare. Although credits earned in the NAC program usually cannot transfer into most academic programs, many nursing programs in Washington State require students to have experience in healthcare and / or be a Certified Nurse Assistant. If the student wishes to do this program along with taking pre-requisites to a nursing program, (s)he should not take pre-requisites during the same quarter they are in the NAC program.

What is the first step an interested student can take to apply for the Nurse Assistant program?

Byron: The application can be found by clicking here. If there are still questions after reading through the application, the student will want to attend an information session. Information sign-ups can be found by clicking here.

$$$ FUNDING TIP! All four Workforce Education funding programs - Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, BFET, and WorkFirst - support the Nurse Assistant program at GRCC.

Career Planning Q and A

Josh Staffieri, M.S.

Here in Workforce Education, we meet lots of students who want to attend Green River, but don't know what they want to study. To make a career planning decision like this involves gathering information.

For example, students need to figure out if their strengths and interests align with a particular degree. They also need to know what kinds of jobs a given degree will prepare them for, and if those jobs pay livable wages. There are a lot of different career planning tools out there to help students find the answers they need. To talk about some of those career planning tools, please welcome Green River's resident Educational and Career Planning guru, Josh Staffieri.

Hi Josh. Welcome to the blog. Let's say we have a new student walk onto campus. She wants to train for a new occupation because her former job doesn't pay enough. She has never been to college, and doesn't know where to begin or how to go about deciding on what degree or certificate to pursue. Where's a good starting point for a student like this?

JOSH: The student has a number of options. First off, she could stop by the Career & Advising Center in LC 126 to schedule an appointment with a career planner, and to get information on a number of different career assessments that we offer here at the college (keep in mind, the folks in Workforce Education can sometimes pay for a student to take a professional career assessment).

I'd also encourage new students to review the list of GRCC's Professional Technical programs. Just like when you visit a restaurant, one has to order from the menu and the list of programs is GRCC's menu. And even if GRCC doesn't offer the type of program the student may be looking for, there are 33 other community colleges, many of which are in the area. For more information about programs at other schools, visit: CheckOutACollege.com.

What are some tools you can recommend to help students find wage information on jobs they are interested in training for?

JOSH: There are a number of great websites that provide labor market information (i.e. salary, employment outlook, educational requirements) and so choosing one is not easy. Here are a few we recommend to students:

• Washington Occupational Information System (WOIS). Gives access to relevant employment information. It's a password protected site but a college staff member can help you access it.

• O*NET Online. Provides detailed reports on different careers.

• MyNextMove.org. Offers quick data on wages, salaries, and related employment info.

• Careerbridge.wa.gov. Explores careers, views job trends, and helps locate educational programs throughout the state.

Are there any other career planning tools you would like to speak about?

JOSH: Aside from researching programs and jobs online, I always encourage students to first test drive their potential career. For example, before purchasing a vehicle, it's normally a good idea to test drive it. You want to ensure the vehicle works and if you're comfortable driving it. Jobs are no different! It might look like a good job (good pay, strong employment outlook) but how will you know if it's truly a good fit until you talk to someone doing the work (via information interview) or better yet, observe someone doing the work (via job shadow).

A simple way to find people performing the job you have an interest in is to ask your family and friends if they know anyone working in the type of job or related field. You would be surprised who others know that you don't. You can also enhance your networking circle through the world's largest professional social networking website, LinkedIn.com. It's free to join and gives you the opportunity to connect with literally millions of people online in a safe and professional manner.
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Prof Tech Profile #9: Design Drafting Technology

Today's Prof Tech Profile is on the Design Drafting Technology program and features a brief Q and A with esteemed faculty member Felix Serna.

Hi Felix. Thanks for joining us on the Go 2 College Free Blog. Green River offers a broad range of professional technical programs. Why Design Drafting Technology?

FELIX: Virtually everything you see that is man made, from the roads you drive to every object you have in your possession, required someone to visualize it before it became a reality. The Design Drafting Technology profession is involved in the process of having that dream through its fruition. Members of this profession may develop a virtual model of the object, assembly, or system and then create the documentation (drawings) required for the manufacturers or builders to produce. The Puget Sound area has quite an abundance of manufacturing, engineering & design firms, not to mention governmental bodies that also utilize this profession.

In your opinion, what type of person is a good fit for the Design Drafting Technology program at GRCC?

FELIX: Anyone who has a desire to see their visions become a reality, who loves to draw, and enjoys working with people.

There's a variety of Design Drafting Technology-related degrees and certificates to choose from. How can prospective students interested in DDT determine what degree or certificate pathway is best for them?

FELIX: We recommend that they schedule an appointment with Felix Serna (me) or Terry Waagan to discuss the different options available.

What jobs will training in Design Drafting Technology prepare students for?

FELIX: There are a multitude of different directions our training will take you. I would recommend that they view our drafting video on our website to see the various disciplines that they may end up working in.

Funding Update! The following Workforce Education funding programs support Design Drafting Technology at GRCC: Worker Retraining, BFET, and WorkFirst.

Resource Connection

Workforce Education is in the business of helping students find money to pay for school. But the thing is, many of the students we meet and talk with need more than just money for school. They might also need help putting food on the table, finding transportation to and from campus, or finding low-cost housing. They might need childcare assistance, help finding a part-time survival job, counseling services, or even new set of clothes. In short, students oftentimes need help pulling together multiple resources to meet their most basic needs.

We've been thinking about how to respond to what we've seen and heard, and so as a way to connect students up with resources related to food assistance, housing, transportation, childcare, and the like, Workforce Education will begin hosting weekly "resource connection" appointments. These informal appointments are available to Green River students or to prospective Green River students, and they are designed to help students access resources that will help them meet their basic needs.

While Workforce Education staff members can't guarantee immediate resolution to problems surrounding basic needs, we can draw from our collective expertise to connect students up with relevant programs and community agencies that might be able to help. To sign up for a short resource connection appointment, call the Workforce Education front desk at 253-833-9111 ext 2211.

Trade Adjustment Assistance

Knowledge is power. You have the power to earn that degree or certificate if you know where the free grant money is to pay for it, and that's precisely where the Workforce Education Office at Green River comes into the picture. We're here to help you find free money to help you pay for school. We're your resource connection.

There are lots of grant programs at Green River and in the surrounding community in place to help students pay for school. There's Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, WorkFirst, and BFET (the four programs administered by the team here in Workforce Education). There's also Federal Financial Aid, WIA funds, Green River Foundation scholarships, as well as scholarships offered on thewashboard.org.

Yet another possible source of funding is Trade Adjustment Assistance, which is unique in terms of the depth and breadth of support it can offer qualifying students. Benefits through this federally funded program may include fully funded training at a community college, a health care subsidy, weekly income support, funding for out-of-area job searches, funding to relocate for suitable employment, and a wage subsidy for older workers.

Trade Adjustment Assistance is typically available to workers whose employer moved production outside the USA; outsourced jobs outside the USA; imported from foreign suppliers; competed with foreign companies; or experienced a change in customer supply due to foreign competition.

To learn more visit taa-washington.org. At this site you can read about Trade Adjustment Assistance in detail and determine your eligibility for benefits. You can also call 1-866-TAA-3399 or ask to speak with a Trade Act counselor at your local WorkSource affiliate.

Workforce Investment Act Funding

As we've stated in earlier posts here and here, our philosophy in Workforce Education is simple: If you need help paying for school, create options for yourself by applying for as many different funding programs as possible.

For example, when new students approach our office to apply for Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, WorkFirst, or BFET funds, we also help them identify and apply for additional funding programs on campus or in the community. Some of those additional funding programs include Federal Financial Aid, Green River Foundation scholarships, or scholarships offered on thewashboard.org.

Another possible source of funding includes Workforce Investment Act funds, or "WIA" funds, for short. In many cases, WIA funds can pay for two quarters worth of tuition, fees, and books, so they are definitely worth applying for. These funds are typically available to those who are either collecting Unemployment Insurance benefits or who have exhausted Unemployment Insurance benefits, or to underemployed / low-income adults.

And applying is easy! Call 253-833-9111 ext 2211 to make an appointment with a WIA representative on Green River's main campus. If setting up an appointment on campus doesn't fit your schedule, you can also apply for WIA funds by attending a "Job Search and Training Resources Workshop" at your local WorkSource Affiliate. If you choose the workshop route, be sure to visit a WorkSource in the county you live in.

Prof Tech Profile #8: Administrative Assistant

Today's Prof Tech Profile is on the Administrative Assistant Program and features a brief Q and A with esteemed faculty member Tonya McCabe (we interviewed Tonya in an earlier post on the Business Applications Specialist Program, which you can read here).

Hi Tonya. Welcome back to the blog. To start, can you give us a short overview of the Adminstrative Assistant Program at GRCC?

Tonya: The Administrative Assistant Program offers students an opportunity to develope essential skills in their area of interest, as well as a comprehensive general education.

What type of person might be a good fit for the Adminstrative Assistant Program at GRCC?

Tonya: Students who wish to work in a professional office setting in an administrative support position would be a good fit for the Administrative Assistant Program at GRCC.

What jobs will training in this field prepare students for?

Tonya: Students who successfully complete the Administrative Assistant degree often find employment in entry and mid-level office support positions depending on their experience and skill set.

Finally, how can prospective students learn more about the Administrative Assistant Program at GRCC?

Tonya: Students can contact a Business Ed faculty member or read about the program by clicking here.

FUNDING TIP! All four Workforce Education funding programs - Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, BFET, and WorkFirst - support the Administrative Assistant Program at GRCC.

Prof Tech Profile #7: Carpentry Technology

Today's Prof Tech Profile is on the Carpentry Technology Program and features a brief Q and A with esteemed faculty member Glen Martin.

Hi Glen. Welcome to the Go 2 College Free blog. GRCC offers a wide variety of Professional Technical training programs. Why Carpentry Technology?

Glen: Like all other Prof Tech programs, Carpentry Technology is here to provide training for students who want to be employed in the field of residential carpenters as well as provide training for anyone in the community that wants to learn how to build a home or remodel a home.

In your opinion, what type of person is a good fit for the Carpentry Technology Program at GRCC?

Glen: Anyone who is creative, artistic, has a great eye for detail and loves working with their hands as well as their mind. In addition, a person who enjoys working outdoors and likes to face unique challenges on a daily basis.

GRCC offers several different training pathways in Carpentry Technology, from a two-year degree to a variety of shorter-term certificates. How can prospective students figure out what pathway is best for them?

Glen: I meet individually with students to find out exactly where they would like to be in 3 - 5 years and with that information can advise students on what carpentry certificates and / or degree to work towards. Each certificate relates to a specific phase of residential construction from foundations to finish work. Ideally a student with no prior experience should try and earn all certificates, but those who already have experience can choose which certificates they would like to work on.

Finally, what jobs does training in this field prepare students for?

Glen: Carpenter (of course), general or specialty contractors, vendors and / or suppliers for construction materials, project managers, project superintendents, designer / builders, building maintenance, architects, home inspectors, building inspectors, and construction consultants.

FUNDING TIP! The following Workforce Education funding programs support Carpentry Technology at GRCC: Worker Retraining, BFET, and WorkFirst.

Prof Tech Profile #6: Business Applications Specialist

Today's Prof Tech Profile is on the Business Applications Specialist Program and features a brief Q and A with esteemed faculty member Tonya McCabe.

Hi Tonya. Thanks for joining us on the Go 2 College Free blog. Green River offers a broad range of professional technical programs. Why Business Applications Specialist?

TONYA: The Business Applications Specialist degree offers students an opportunity to develop essential business skills in their area of interest, as well as a comprehensive general education.

In your opinion, what type of person is a good fit for the Business Applications Specialist Program at GRCC?

TONYA: Students who wish to work in a professional, office setting and who enjoy working on projects or tasks that require web design, customer service, and / or advanced computer skills would be a good fit for the Business Applications Specialist program at GRCC.

What jobs will training in this field prepare students for?

TONYA: Students who successfully complete the Business Applications Specialist degree often find employment in a wide range of positions including Project Coordinators, Office Support Specialists, and Executive Assistants depending on their experience and skill set.

Last of all, how can prospective students learn more about the Business Applications Specialist Program at GRCC?

TONYA: Students can contact a Business Ed faculty member or read more about the program by clicking here.

FUNDING TIP! All four Workforce Education funding programs - Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, BFET, and WorkFirst - support the Business Applications Specialist Program at GRCC.

Fall Is Here!

Fall is here and campus is once again bustling with activity. The start of the quarter carries along with it the usual rush of finalizing class schedules and squaring away funding arrangements. But the quarter's start also carries along with it a rich sense of possibility and the promise of reaching new intellectual horizons.

While we're only two weeks into fall, Workforce Education is already setting its sites on the upcoming winter quarter. Specifically, we are gearing up to host another round of Go 2 College Free funding workshops from October 18th through November 8th. Students new to Green River and in need of funding for the winter quarter can visit go2collegefree.com to sign up for a workshop.