Trustees Approve $780K-plus for Workforce Training
South Texas College Trustees approved more than $781,000 in grants at their most recent meeting Jan. 25. A $329,000 grant for the Apprenticeship Texas Expansion Program for metalworking machinery manufacturing (above) and many others was among those approved by Trustees.
Grants approved by South Texas College Board of Trustees at their most recent meeting this spring are now set to provide $781,036 in funding for services and opportunities throughout the region.
Trustees approved a $329,462 grant for the Apprenticeship Texas Expansion Program in partnership with Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
The grant is a collaborative effort between employers in Residential Building Construction, Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing, Restaurant, and Traveler Accommodation to enable participants to received nationally recognized credentials and job experience in those industries.
The funding period for the grant began Feb. 1, 2022 and will last until January 31, 2023.
“Our apprenticeship programs continue to grow at STC, namely due to specific demands from business and industry,” said Dr. Carlos Margo, STC Associate Dean of Industry Training and Economic Development. “Additionally, local school districts have reached out to us requesting to participate in various apprenticeship programs mainly because of the programs’ inclusion of a paid work experience. This grant will have both youth (high school juniors and seniors) and adults participating in multiple registered apprenticeship programs that are aligned with regional demand occupations.”
On the Continuing Education side, trustees approved an Accelerating Credentials of Purpose and Value Grant by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in the amount of $289,720 to develop six non-credit digital Skills training programs into an online format.
Those programs include Web Developer, Mobile App. Developer, FANUC Robot Operator, Electro-Mechanical Devices, Digital Fundamentals, and Programmable Logic Controller Occupations.
The funding period for this grant is from January 15, 2022 to September 30 2022.
“This grant will help us convert some of our courses to a digital platform, which will make the courses more accessible to students,” said Continuing Education Director Olivia De La Rosa. “The grant will cover the cost of the curriculum development and the online conversion.”
Margo said the design of courses to an online format will help STC reach and retain a larger pool of students.
“Due to a combination of social, business and health complexities, accessibility to traditional, in-person training programs has been challenging to many of our clients,” Margo said. “Participants will have the option to take many of our courses completely online, in person or in a hybrid manner, which is a combination of both.”
Continuing Education received additional support as Board Trustees also approved $11,904 in administrative funding to a Region One Education Service Center Agreement with South Texas College for the Texas Workforce Commission, Adult Education and Family Literacy Grant initially approved in Sept. 2021.
The original grant of $249,999 was set up to provide training for Adult Basic Education and Adult Secondary Education instructional services in Phlebotomy, Electrocardiography, Educational Aide, Structural Welding, and Medical Office Specialist from October 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
STC trustees approved $112,500 for round three of a Texas Reskilling Support Program in partnership with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to support 75 students who have previously completed postsecondary education credits, and who are near completion who wish to re-enroll in an accredited postsecondary institution.
The funding period for this grant is from January 21, 2022 to September 30, 2022.
Rounding out a significant evening for the funding of STC programs, STC’s Child Development Associates Credential Program was awarded $37,450 by Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board - Workforce Solutions to offer Child Development Associates (CDA) courses for fall 2022 and spring 2023.
The two courses offered by the CDEC department will be directed to teachers of child care facilities that accept child care subsidies through Workforce Solutions in Starr, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties to help them meet requirements listed by the Council for Professional Recognition, the organization that awards the CDA Credential.
Funds awarded by Workforce Solutions will be used to cover tuition, fees, and textbooks for up to 25 candidates who meet the eligibility requirements and are referred to us by Workforce Solutions for the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters.
“This grant from Workforce Solutions provides funding for their candidates to meet the educational requirements in order to obtain a Child Development Associates Credential,” said Veronica Rodriguez, STC assistant professor and chair of the Child Development and Early Childhood Department. “STC CDEC has been in partnership with Workforce Solutions for many years to provide this educational pathway so that candidates can obtain their CDA credential and help their employers meet the Workforce Solutions Texas Rising Star requirements.”