Seventy-one students were enrolled in the Workforce Credentials Grant (WCG) program at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College during the 2017 academic year that ended June 30, according to Gary Keener, DSLCC Vice President of Workforce Solutions and Community Education. The WCG program was designed to develop employability skills for individuals in select high-demand areas of business and industry located in the college service region.
Of the 71 individuals that enrolled in programs throughout the year at DSLCC, 49 have received industry-recognized credentials associated with the program as of July 31. Credential testing for the initial group will continue through September, and based on current test results, credential attainment is expected to be above 90 percent for all program enrollees.
The WCG training program is a special, state-funded initiative offered through DSLCC’s Workforce Solutions and Community Education Division that provides funding for high-demand industry credentials in select programs. Virginia residents accepted into the program are provided reduced tuition costs, only being responsible for paying one-third of the overall tuition for their selected program. The remaining two-thirds of the tuition is covered by the state, providing the student completes the program and earns the industry-recognized credential. In addition, low-income Virginia residents may also be eligible to apply for Financial Assistance for Noncredit Training that leads to Industry Credentials (FANTIC) and, if accepted, will have 90 percent of their portion paid by the state.
“The WCG recognizes the need for skilled workers,” says Keener. “The Governor and the General Assembly allocated funds to meet the workforce training needs that keep our region, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, competitive. This program opens the door to new employment opportunities for Virginia residents who would not have access to high-level skills training without it.”
The WCG programs offered during the 2017 academic year at DSLCC include Commercial Driver’s License, Clinical Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician I, Flux Core Arc Welding, National Center for Construction and Education Research –Core and Millwright Levels 1 & 2, and Phlebotomy Technician.
For more information about the WCG, contact Brooke Shehan at (540) 863-2848 or email bshehan@dslcc.edu.