Corporate Training and Tech Prep

To respond to local industry training needs, Broome Community College (BCC), in Binghamton, New York, has long provided long and short term training, workshops, seminars, and credit courses for regional companies and forged ongoing partnerships with local businesses. One such partnership has been formed with Universal Instruments (UI), a manufacturer of automation equipment for electronics assembly and testing. The partnership has adapted the concepts of Tech Prep education to establish a non-credit certificate program in applied technology at UI. The six-course program is targeted at UI employees without college degrees working in technical positions and offers instruction in math, principles of technology, communication, and problem-solving. A total of 36 students were placed in the initial certificate program, the graduates of which are eligible to enter one of several Associate in Technology degree programs at BCC which are designed to maintain a competent and skilled workforce. The certificate program uses video tapes, hands-on and laboratory experiences, and applied academics, rather than traditional lecture methods, and results have been encouraging. Employee feedback has been extremely positive and UI officials have indicated that updated employee skills have been a tremendous asset to the company. (BCY)