Lake View High schoolers enrolled in Northeastern Technical College workforce courses on their campus tested faculty on the coursework they are completing.
In April, students taking NETC’s Precision Measurement class brought in faculty to demonstrate what they have been learning in workforce classes.
“The students wanted to expose them to our curriculum,” said Bill Heering, NETC Mechatronics and Electrical Instructor. “As one of the student projects, they would invite a teacher from the school at the end of class and teach them about precision measurements.”
Accompanying the classwork, a 10-question quiz was given to the participating teacher by the student.
“We are trying to incorporate much of the faculty to see what we are doing. I think this project helped faculty buy in what Northeastern Technical College is doing for students,” Heering said.
Northeastern Technical College began its workforce curriculum at Lake View High School in Dillon County at the start of the 2023-24 school year as part of the Ready, Set, Career initiative, which includes Dillon High.
Ready, Set, Career is designed to place Dillon County and Lake View High School juniors entering the 2023-24 academic year into foundation courses leading them into in one of six needed positions in the greater Dillon County area by the time they graduate in 2025.
“Ready, Set, Career is an initiative to assist Dillon County and Lake View High School students who want to immediately and seamlessly enter the workforce after graduating and to work in their home towns, while at the same time, Ready, Set, Career gives industries access to a young and motivated individuals needed to replenish and grow their workforces,” said NETC President Kyle Wagner.
Data compiled for job types needed and their wages came from a variety of industries in and surrounding Dillon areas, Wagner said. Jobs needed in the greater Dillon County area that the high school students enter from Ready, Set, Career have starting hourly wages averaging $20 to $28, Wagner said.
As the program continues, students will begin learning how to undergo job interviews – not just one-on-one but being able to undergo interviews by a panel, which is common practice in many fields.
“We are working with our local industry human resources departments to set up mock interviews,” Heering said. “Being interviewed by a panel can be very intimidating, even if you know your stuff.”
In the Ready, Set, Career pathway, first year students complete their foundation courses, Dillon and Lake View High students can pick one of six tracts to continue during their senior year:
Automotive Technology
Computer Numerical Control Operator
Electrical Engineering
Machine Tool Technology
Mechanical Engineering
Multi-Craft / Plant Maintenance
Ready, Set, Career foundation classes earn 17 credit hours of basic industry science classes, which follows a specific timeline:
Aug-Dec. Print Reading and Sketching and Industrial Safety.
Dec.-Jan. CPR certification
Jan.-April. Introduction to CAD, Industrial Tools and Precision Measurement, and Operations Management 1
May Introduction to Industry/Engineering Careers
Ready, Set, Career courses completed by Dillon and Lake View graduates are also another layer of education that
For more information visit online netc.edu or call 800.921.7399.
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