CCC Provides IT Mentoring

Providing the IT training necessary for certifications in state-of-the-industry computer systems is a great way for community colleges to serve simultaneously the needs of area workers and workplaces. Through its technology-mentoring program, Camden County College has guided fellow community colleges throughout the region in establishing IT-training programs of their own. These start-ups aren’t only modeled on Camden County College’s program. They also employ the same instructors, the same curricula and the same marketing techniques. CCC even sets up each new computer lab, delivers each batch of training manuals and conducts information sessions for each school’s prospective students.

Financial investment isn’t required of partner schools, and Camden County College shares net revenue 50-50 for one year. The partner schools are then free to develop their programs as they wish, while always welcome to consult CCC for further advice. Camden County College views this endeavor as exemplifying the “community” aspect of community colleges because it brings desirable training to community residents and, in turn, to the community-based businesses that employ them while helping fellow members of the community college community expand their service abilities and earning capabilities.

Key points include the following:

▪ The program started as the “doing of a favor” when CCC volunteered to help Delaware County Community College set up its IT-certification training.

▪ The most similar program – which offers substantially fewer up-front benefits, such as supplying instructors – is offered by a for-profit center that takes 75 percent of income before the deduction of expenses and requires long-term contractual commitment.

▪ Course offerings include A+/Network+, Certified Internet Webmaster, Cisco Certified Network Associate, Network Administrator Specialist, Network+ Certification, Microsoft Certified System Engineer, Microsoft Office 2000 User Specialist and Oracle Database Administrator.

▪ Current partners are Delaware County Community College (1998), Atlantic Cape Community College (2000), Bucks County Community College (2001) and Raritan Valley Community College (2002). Two other Delaware Valley institutions and a New York school are under consideration for the program.

▪ The Community College Futures Assembly of the University of Florida Institute of Higher Education selected CCC’s technology mentoring program as one of 10 national workforce development finalists for its 2002 Bellwether Awards.

▪ Camden County College officials have presented seminars on the technology-mentoring program as part of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges Best Practices series.

▪ Hopes are that the success of this endeavor will create more opportunities for mentoring relationships with other colleges in the region.

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: CCC staff