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Johnson County Community College, which has an enrollment of nearly 20,000 students, announced today that it was preparing to launch a major upgrade of its career and technical education programs and facilities, and it’s turning to the region’s business leadership for guidance with that effort.
The college said in a new release that it had scheduled a series of employer forums to help campus officials determine the right size and capacity as well as critical curriculum elements, that should be included in the updated programs.
“Frequently, I encounter employers who indicate it is difficult to find qualified employees to fill vacant positions in a variety of industries and occupations,” JCCC president Joe Sopcich said in the release. “Employers often share that the local labor pool does not match the growing demand for jobs that require strong skills, proper training and certification, sufficient levels of education, and previous work experience. Generally known as a ‘skills gap,’ this situation results from a strong demand for certain types of workers and a large supply of job seekers whose skills do not match the needs of employers.”
The forums will be held on campus in RC 270, with the following program areas and sessions:
Monday, Dec. 7, 1-3:30 p.m. Automation
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 8-10:30 a.m. Computer-aided drafting
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1-3:30 p.m. Construction management
Thursday, Dec. 10, 8-10:30 a.m. Electrical technology
Friday, Dec. 11, 8-10:30 a.m. Electronics
Friday, Dec. 11, 1-3:30 p.m. HVAC
Monday, Dec. 14, 1-3:30 p.m. Welding
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 8-10:30 a.m. Auto technology
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1-3:30 p.m. Auto collision
Thursday, Dec. 17, 8-10:30 a.m. Machine tool technology/ Advanced manufacturing
Employers will be asked to provide information on employment projections for the next six to 12 months and, longer term, for the next three to five years. They’ll also be asked to help identify the soft skills needed and critical technical skills necessary for employees in their industries, types of skill shortages they now see, and strategies they are using to address those shortage.
Interested employers can contact Julie Haas, associate vice president of College & Community Relations, at 913.469.3120 or jhaas@jccc.edu.
