Employers Invited To Business Breakfast To Learn About New Organizational Leadership Program, Quarterly Business Forum‏

Blue Bell, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) invites employers to a free Business Breakfast on Thursday, April 21 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in College Hall at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

During the breakfast, employers will learn about how their employees’ experience and training may qualify for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), which can translate into college credits as part of MCCC’s new Professional and Organizational Leadership certificate programs.

“Our new Leadership certificates have been designed with the working adult in mind, with credits dedicated to support Prior Learning Assessment opportunities and to recognize relevant training and professional experiences,” shared Theresa Sullivan, assistant professor of Office Management.  “These stackable programs emphasize competencies such as leadership, analytics, conflict resolution and negotiation, which are needed to support a wide variety of industries.  We want to help employers and students connect their professional experiences to educational credentials.”

According to the 2014 Global Human Capital Trends Survey, more than 2,500 business and human resources leaders cited leadership as their top talent issue, with 86 percent rating it as an urgent or important need. However, only 13 percent responded that their organizations do an excellent job of developing leaders at all levels.

By offering a new Organizational Leadership Certificate program, MCCC looks to partner with regional businesses to help them develop talent and leadership qualities among employees.

“Montgomery County Community College offers pathways to credentials that can save employers and their staff time and money. These opportunities strengthen workforce retention and morale,” explained Denise Collins, manager of the U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant at MCCC.

Employers who participate in the breakfast will also be introduced to the College’s new business forum, “Business Quarterly at Montgomery County Community College.” University of Pennsylvania Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Donahue will offer a motivational address on the importance of team training and coaching to kick off this exciting new business networking opportunity.

The Business Breakfast is free and is open to all employers in the region. However, space is limited. Registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis through April 15. For more information and to register, contact Denise Collins at dcollins@mc3.edu or 215-619-7313.

MCCC Offers Workshops To Help Adults Transition Into College

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.— Building on the success of a pilot Career Transitions Workshop in April, Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) will offer additional workshops in Blue Bell and Pottstown for adults who may be thinking about returning to college.

The next set of Career Transitions Workshops will be held on Tuesday, May 13 from 6-8 p.m. at MCCC’s West Campus, 101 College Drive, Pottstown, and on Thursday, June 5 from 10 a.m.-noon at MCCC’s Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

The workshops are open to all adults and are free of charge, although pre-registration is requested. For more information or to RSVP, contact Denise Collins at 215-619-7313 or dcollins@mc3.edu.

During the workshops, prospective students will get an overview of the resources available to help them transition into college. Topics include using MCCC’s website and online registration tools, financial aid, assessment of credits for prior learning, stackable credentials, career pathways, and job search tools.

After the initial sessions, MCCC advisors will follow up with participants one-on-one to help them identify programs and pathways that are right for them.

“Our goal is help adult learners be comfortable and successful at the College. We want this to be a place where they can get back on track with their education and transition into new careers,” said Denise Collins, who manages the U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant at MCCC.

The grant is helping MCCC to develop a robust Prior Learning Assessment model and stackable credentials for adult students as part of the JobTrakPA framework—a joint initiative of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges to train and place underemployed and unemployed residents of the Commonwealth in high demand jobs.

The workshop also connects to MCCC’s participation in the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) Plus 50 Encore Completion Program, which looks to train 10,000 baby boomers for high-demand jobs through 2015.