OTC construction programs respond to local need

Project CREW. Project CREW, Construction Readiness Education for Women, is a job-training program that assists primarily economically disadvantaged women in making the sometimes difficult transition into the nontraditional career field of construction.

In addition to the technical skills and general education course offerings, participants in Project CREW are involved in strength training and personal and professional development. The program is offered by Ozarks Technical Community College in cooperation with Job Council of the Ozarks, and participants must meet specific Job Training Partnership guidelines.

Continuing education. Continuing education is a noncredit program offering a wide range of educational experiences. Workshops, seminars and courses may begin at any time and do not necessarily coincide with the college's academic calendar. Course offerings in the construction area have included countertop installation, drywall repair, ceramic tile setting, exterior and interior painting, and wallpapering, to name just a few.

Customized training. The mission of OTC's customized training department is to provide high-quality training and consultation designed for the specific needs and requests of businesses. The department works with businesses in assessing needs and designing, developing, implementing and evaluating training programs for each industry.

The training ranges from updating or developing new technical skills to team building, basic supervision and leadership development. These educational experiences are provided primarily at the job site or can be arranged in college facilities.

I recently had the privilege to sit in the audience as OTC construction student Lana Kramer received the Alumnus of the Year Award for Service Delivery Area 8 at the Governor's Conference on Workforce Development. Lana is a 56-year-old, soon-to-be grandmother who set out to make a new life for herself when she enrolled in Project CREW a little more than one year ago.

Lana recalled the years she had spent trying to make ends meet as a single mother. When her children were finally grown and independent, she decided to venture off the beaten path and explore career opportunities in the field of construction.

It was Job Council of the Ozarks that directed Lana to Project CREW and provided her with JTPA funds that covered all of the costs associated with her first year of education. Today, Lana is the owner of a small construction company, Kramer and Associates, and recently completed a remodeling job at Hillcrest High School.

Lana is striving to reach a point where she will be able to employ more of her former classmates. At the same time, she has decided to continue her education at OTC beyond the one-year certificate program with the assistance of scholarships awarded to her by both the Springfield Contractors Association and the Home Builders Association of Springfield.

Clearly, Lana is not a traditional or typical student in any sense of the word. Her age, gender and area of study make her truly unique. Yet, she found an environment at OTC in which she could thrive. It is also evident, judging from Lana's business success, that her education helped her respond to a community need for skilled craftspeople.

Eight years ago when OTC started classes, it adopted a primary mission to provide technical education programs supported by essential foundation and basic skills courses which are responsive to the educational needs of the community and its industrial, commercial and service organizations.

In the years since the college's inception, this has come to mean a variety of things variety being the key concept. In the construction area alone, OTC offers a full menu to serve a diverse student body and a wide range of industry and community needs. A description of these programs is outlined below.

Graff Area Vocational Technical School. High school juniors and seniors from throughout the OTC district (plus Fair Grove) can earn credit toward high school graduation in the construction technology skill program. Students also receive college credit for these courses, which are completed during their regular school day.

Construction Technology Certificate Program. The one-year skill program prepares students for entry-level employment in the construction industry and assists them in making a quick transition from school to work.

Students are involved in hands-on skills training in carpentry, masonry, cabinetmaking, interior finishes and blueprint reading. Other general education courses are completed for the certificate.

AAS degree. The associate of applied science degree in construction technology requires a total of 63 to 65 college credit hours in a broad spectrum of technical and general education courses. The degree also allows students to specialize by selecting advanced level courses in masonry, estimating and trim carpentry. Likewise, a cooperative education internship provides students with an opportunity to work in a real construction setting of their choosing and interest area.

The vast array of program offerings at OTC none of which would be possible without the support and feedback of the construction industry make it possible to serve an ever-increasing number of construction technology students.

Construction professionals have always taken an active role in the advisory committees at OTC, helping to shape the programs that will best serve the students and the industry.

Likewise, construction organizations such as the HBA and SCA annually provide scholarships that open doors for students like Lana Kramer. For these things, OTC salutes the industry.

(Jennifer Jackson is Project CREW coordinator for Ozarks Technical Community College.)

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