Education and Training:
Recognized for Excellence
WEST SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROVIDES CUSTOMIZED TRAINING
West Shore Community College www.westshore.edu is interested in all aspects of the economic viability of the West Michigan area. WSCC has worked with business and industry to develop a well-trained workforce in a number of job skill areas ever since it opened its doors in 1967. Today, the college's role has grown to the point that WSCC offers or can custom design a training program to fit almost any need.
WSCC training can take place on campus or in the workplace. Length and format of the training program can range from a day-long seminar to a series of classes over several months. And qualified instructors can be located elsewhere to lead the training session(s) if a WSCC instructor does not have precisely the expertise required.
In addition to customized training programs, typical training provided by WSCC is offered in the following areas: Supervisor Training, Computer Applications, Measuring Instruments, Conflict Resolution, Customer Service, Team Building, Hazardous Materials Safety, Pace Soldering, Blueprint Reading, Welding, Programmable Logic Controllers, Machine Tool, Computer Applications, Emergency Medical Technician, Computer Numerical Control.
Area business and industry leaders are consistently pleased with and appreciative of WSCC's training programs. Thanks to the U.S. Department of Labor, WSCC currently has funds to pay for training of area employees. Contact Ed Palsrok to see if your training needs are eligible for funding through this grant. Take the survey to identify your company's training needs HERE.
MICHIGAN WORKS! WEST CENTRAL
PARTNERING TO PROVIDE TRAINING RESOURCES
West Central Michigan Works is working closely with the Mason County Growth Alliance and West Shore Community College to collaborate on workforce development issues. Over the past three years, $52,359 in training grants have been awarded to Mason County employers for training 245 employees. Additionally, Michigan Works is a great partner in helping area businesses in many areas related to staffing. For a description of their services click HERE.
This group is also engaged in efforts to encourage area workers to be tested in the ACT! Work keys system in order to develop a measure of area employees skill levels. This computer based assessment identifies measures real world skills like applied mathmatics, applied technology, locating information, reading for information, and business writing. Incorporated into this testing, is a computer based skill enhancement to help improve skill levels when desired.
MASON COUNTY AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OFFER QUALITY EDUCATION
Mason County area public schools have a proud tradition of providing quality education to the communities they serve. Four public school districts serve the Mason County area.
Ludington Area School District- 2491 students, www.lasd.net
Mason County Central Schools-1645 students, www.mccschools.com
Mason County Eastern Schools-614 students, www.mceschools.com
According to Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services, which measures educational performance and outcomes of all public school systems in Michigan, Ludington Area School District stands out as a high-quality educational system: "Relative to other K-12 school districts in Michigan, Ludington Area School District achieves well above-average student results with spending that is comparable to statewide levels."
The district's MEAP composite passing rate for reading, mathematics, science and writing tests is 67.8 percent, which is well above the state average of 52.8 percent. State-wide, only 6.6% of Michigan school districts report a greater proportion of MEAP scores that meet or exceed state standards.
The district's percentage of all MEAP high school tests taken in grade 11 that receive an excelling score is 22.7 percent. This is well above the statewide average of 13.4 percent. Statewide, only 5.7 percent of Michigan's school districts report higher MEAP grade 11 excelling rates.
TECH PREP PARTNERSHIP:
FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE
In 1988 the Mason-Lake Intermediate School District www.mlisd.k12.mi.us initiated a vocational/technical education skills program with West Shore Community College. The Technical Preparation Partnership was the first of its kind in the state. Working together, the Tech Prep Partnership built a technical skills center on the WSCC campus that is shared by area high school students during the day and by college students in the evening.
The Tech Prep Partnership has become a model throughout Michigan. It exemplifies what can be accomplished between secondary and post secondary educational entities when they share facilities, instructors, counseling and placement services. It also shares advisory boards that have forged strong ties with business and industry allowing for job shadowing and work experience.
The Tech Prep program parallels the College Prep program. The curriculum and articulation agreements prepare students to enter a technical career, but also support students who choose a four-year college degree program. Students are taught using the applied method of instruction on state-of-the-art equipment.
The high school Tech Prep programs offered are: Emergency Medical Technician, Computer Assisted Drafting, Graphic Communications, Office Information Systems, Hospitality Management, Automotive Technology, Computer Information Systems, Machine Trades Technology, Travel & Tourism, Welding Technology, Electronics Technology, Allied Health Technologies, Criminal Justice and Building Trades Technology.
The Technical Preparation Partnership is an outstanding reflection of the Mason-Lake Intermediate School District's commitment to educational excellence.
Here is an interesting article from the Michigan Manufacturers Association regaqrding the importance of education for our workforce.