Rhonda Morin, director of communications
360-992-2705; rmorin@clark.edu
www.clarkcollegefoundation.org
Bank
of America grant to fund new
pre-apprenticeship
edge program
$20,000 grant to enhance soft skills for job
readiness
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Clark College Foundation received a
$20,000 grant from Bank of America to develop a pre-apprenticeship professional
edge program aimed at enhancing soft skills as part of student education at
Clark College so that they are job-ready.
Workplace research reports
that large numbers of employees lack employability or soft skills to be
successful and effective in a growing number of industries, businesses and
corporations. The Association for Career and Technical Educations recommends
that colleges become proactive in addressing employ-ability skills.
The Bank of America funds will assist Clark College
Economic and Community Development and the Office of Instruction in designing a
40-hour curriculum—called the pre-apprenticeship professional edge program—focusing
on workplace readiness soft skills by means of interactive exercises, classroom
learning, individual coaching and employer presentations. Having solid soft
skills provides a competitive advantage during interviews, can result in better
performance reviews and positions an employee to receive opportunities for
growth.
The learning objectives include, but are not limited
to, enhancing interpersonal skills, work ethic, positive attitude, personal
hygiene, problem solving, teamwork, communication, conflict resolution,
professionalism, accountability and emotional intelligence.
Clark College will partner with regional employers,
high schools and workforce development organizations to develop the curriculum.
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are at greatest risk for not having
some of these intangible skills necessary to be successful at work.
“Nearly 73 percent of
students at Clark are the first generation in their families to attend college,”
said
Lisa Gibert, president/CEO, Clark College Foundation. “We are grateful to Bank
of America for their leadership in helping us break the cycle of intergenerational
poverty through improved education.”
“We recognize that education and jobs are
interconnected, and play a critical role in advancing economic development in
Vancouver. To that end, this funding specifically supports Clark College’s
program to help students connect with employment success and provides the lift
they need to succeed,” said David Reiter, senior vice president and U.S. Trust
Private Client Manger. “Bank of America and Clark College Foundation have been
strategic partners since 2011, connecting students with the skills and support
to secure stable jobs and brighter financial futures, and we’re proud to
continue giving back to our community’s next generation of leaders.”
The professional edge training will
positively impact significant numbers of vulnerable Clark students of whom 54
percent are from families below the poverty level and 60 percent are unemployed
and/or on public assistance. Many have not had workplace skills modeled by
family members.
Clark has many highly
regarded trade programs that teach a host of technical skills. Nearly
70 percent of Clark’s career and technical graduates are employed within six
months of completion. The new training is expected to augment and complement
students’ technical abilities, thereby enhancing their job success.
Clark College
Foundation is a nonprofit
organization that serves as the fundraising partner of Clark College in support of student learning and
program excellence. Nationally recognized for excellence in fundraising and
communications, the foundation is the 2015
gold winner for
its campaign fundraising communications by the Council for Advancement and Support
of Education (CASE) for District VIII.
To learn more about Bank of America’s corporate social responsibility efforts, visit www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow @BofA_Community.
PHOTO: Left to right, Michael Lindhorst, senior financial advisor, SVP-Wealth Management; Kevin Witte, associate vice president of Clark College Economic and Community Development; Tim Cook, Clark College’s vice president of instruction; Michelle Giovannozzi, Clark College director of economic development and partnerships; Lynn Andrews, Clark College Foundation’s vice president of development; Judy Starr, Clark College Foundation’s director of corporate & foundation relations; and David Reiter, senior vice president, U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.
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