College of DuPage draws crowds to second annual TEC Spotlight event
Exploring educational and career opportunities, approximately 150 guests visited College of DuPage's state-of-the-art Technical Education Center and networked with college representatives, employers and vendors during the college's TEC Spotlight event.
Guests had the opportunity to meet with COD faculty, tour the college's cutting edge labs, and explore careers and salaries in variety of fields, including architecture, automotive, electromechanical technology, electronics, horticulture, HVACR, interior design, manufacturing and welding.
In addition, guests had the opportunity to see demonstrations and presentations covering a range of topics, including automotive technology, welding and COD's Project Hire-Ed, a student apprenticeship program focused on classroom curriculum and on-the-job skills building.
Addressing skills gaps in the workforce, Project Hire-Ed partners with local business leaders to create provide training programs in the skill areas that are most in need by local employers.
Representatives from nearly 70 organizations and employers also were on hand, including Armstrong Fluid Technology, Avanti Engineering, Inc., Car-X Tire & Auto, Contemporary Controls, Dreisilker Electric Motors Inc., Eco Lab, Ferrero, HAAS, The Hill Group, Mitsubishi Electric, Milwaukee Tool, Nicor Energy, Pipe Fitters Local Union 597, Real Autohaus Automotive, Siemens, Southern Illinois University, and Trane Heating and Cooling.
To view more photos of the TEC Spotlight event, visit the COD Newsroom page on Flickr.com.
Apprenticeship programs at Project Hire-Ed provide hands-on training to an employee while gaining necessary competency. They offer skills in a particular occupation, help connect to a career pathway, and combine on-the-job training with appropriate instruction. It is commonly referred to as an "Earn and Learn" model. Gradually, the apprentice acquires new proficiencies, builds workplace skills, and reaches set milestones.
Employer benefits include: building a stronger workforce; increasing skills with incumbent workers or new hires; investing in your employees and increase employee morale; wage increases help motivating employees; higher employee loyalty and higher retention; bringing value to your company and value to your employees; and improving productivity and meeting employer's needs.
The apprentice is employed and earns income while attending College of DuPage. The student receives benefits of full-time employment and wage increases as skills increase or set milestones are reached. The employer pays for the full cost of the student's program courses, labs and fees. This is an opportunity for an apprentice to begin a career and earn college credits while graduating with no college debt.
For an employer interested in these partnership opportunities, visit www.cod.edu/about/project-hire-ed/employers.aspx.
For students with questions on becoming an apprentice, visit www.cod.edu/about/project-hire-ed/apprenticeship.aspx.
Completed in fall of 2010, the $50 million Technical Education Center was funded through proceeds from a successful 2002 capital referendum.
The 178,000-square-foot education center includes over 30 classrooms, 16 state-of-the-art laboratories to accommodate 1,400 students, as well as space for raw material and vehicular storage. In addition, an adjacent greenhouse provides a hands-on laboratory for horticulture students.
The LEED-certified center has two windmills and four solar panels on its roof to provide students with hands-on study of emerging wind/solar energy technologies.
This facility is on-trend with the college's role as the largest provider of workforce education in this region.