NSCC prez salutes initiative preparing students for work force

LYNN – North Shore Community College president Wayne Burton visited Washington last week for a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Obama administration proposing stronger partnerships between two-year public colleges and U.S. employers.?It?s nice to get this recognition,” said Burton. “The initiative is discovering what we (community colleges) are already doing. They want us to partner with private industries to create job opportunities and it?s working. I think it?s highly commendable.”The new initiative, “Skills for America?s Future,” is described as an industry-led initiative to “dramatically improve” work-force training partnerships with community colleges.The Gap Inc., McDonald?s, United Technologies and Accenture are among some of the participating companies that will pay for expanding community college partnerships.NSCC is not affiliated with any of the businesses in Obama?s initiative, but is working on advanced manufacturing with General Electric and hoping to retain their business in this region.?We are open for business,” said Burton. “North Shore Community College currently has the largest work force development by volume than other community colleges in the region. We work very closely with companies in the region to prepare students for jobs.”NSCC is currently in partnership with National Grid through its “Green Curriculum Courses” and offers training certification for people interested in energy efficiency, one of the more popular programs offered.The nursing program at NSCC is also a fast-growing department and Burton notes that partnerships with outside companies are crucial to hands-on skill training in the area.NSCC?s machinist programs partner with the North Shore Labor Council and offer skills training for people entering machinist and manufacturing jobs.Obama has set a goal of 5 million more community college graduates and certificate-holders by 2010, part of a larger goal for the U.S. to again lead the world in the number of college graduates.?It?s quite a thrill to have President Obama recognize the role of community colleges and how critical we are to increasing the role of college graduates,” said Burton. “It is essential to link our programs to jobs after students graduate.”At the event in Washington last week, Burton says that Obama referred to community colleges as “unsung heroes of American education,” while Vice President Joe Biden called community colleges “a hidden gem.”?We do students a large disservice if we don?t prepare them for further education, as well as a place in the work force,” said Burton. “Community colleges have a diverse population for one purpose: to make every student successful that comes here regardless of what they?ve done previously.”Burton hopes the initiative will bring more attention to companies to allow them to get involved with community college partnerships, especially if it will allow them to expand their company.?I?ve always believed that it?s the increment in intellectual and personal growth that one experiences when they come to a college that?s important,” said Burton. “The amount of growth that occurs at a community college is in ways larger than most private colleges.”Burton is one of 15 people, and the only standing college president in the country, to be appointed to the Committee on Measures of Student Success, advising the Secretary in Education in assisting two-year degree-granting institutions of higher education in meeting the completion or graduation rate disclosure requirements outlined in section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 2008.