If you think of technical colleges as the less challenging, second-rate alternative to a traditional university program, it’s time to reevaluate. “Because we aren’t talking about the same economic landscape as we used to be, we aren’t talking about the same education landscape, either,” said Pickens Technical College (PTC) Executive Director Dr. Teina McConnell. “A lot of myths about career and technical education exist, but as we continue to diversify and grow, those hold less and less water. We have state- of-the-art training facilities, knowledgeable instructors, and so much more to help students succeed in the workforce.” Career and technical education isn’t just a practical choice - it’s also becoming pretty popular. Business Insider reported in April last year that trade program sign-ups were up as college enrollment decreased. Construction trade programs saw the largest enrollment increase - a rise of 19.3% year over year, per a study from the National Student Clearinghouse. Theories on learning and how we approach education are constantly evolving, and technology is a major contributor to that growth. That means employees entering the workforce must have the most up-to-date knowledge and skills that will help them stay on the cutting edge of their respective industries. Technical colleges like Pickens Tech in Aurora offer 25+ programs that can launch careers in a wide range of different fields. Pickens Tech also partners with local companies and employers that are seeking to expand their workforce with Pathways to Success Pickens Technical College provides specialized career and technical training to support education’s new direction By WAYNE BLACKWELL
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skilled applicants, helping businesses right here in Colorado grow from the inside out. “The nationwide labor shortage is impacting the entire country, and Colorado is no exception,” Dr. McConnell said. In late September, Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order mandating a 50% increase to the number of registered apprenticeship programs by this coming summer to help bring down high job vacancy rates. At the time, nearly half of Colorado businesses had openings they were having difficulty filling. Built With the Support of Local Businesses All of PTC’s programs employ some sort of hands-on, career-focused curriculum, shaped around what employers actually need. Students use industry-grade equipment in simulated shop or lab environments that mimic what they will see every day in their future workplace. To add even more realness to the education experience, apprenticeships like the ones Gov. Polis has worked to encourage, and internships are built into most of our programs. If PTC’s primary goal is to provide an unsurpassed, highly applicable education to all students, our secondary goal is to support our community by providing confident, equipped employees to fulfill the evolving demands of business and industry in our state. “At the end of the day, we’re here to make a difference,” said Andrew Vidockler, Assistant Director at PTC. “Sometimes, that means making
15 The Acumen
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