Texas Border Business
SCI is using a hybrid format to train essential personnel for today’s challenging job market.
Austin, TX – Southern Careers Institute ends the first cycle of courses under the new hybrid and online instruction model implemented as part of a plan to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. While education looks different these days, Southern Careers Institute is committed to training people in essential industries during this challenging time – medical, technology and skilled trades.
As Texas reported its first cases of COVID-19, Southern Careers Institute moved swiftly to create a hybrid and online instruction plan to ensure continued training while keeping students, faculty and staff safe in the midst of the pandemic. Under Southern Careers Institute’s fully hybrid format, students whose programs require lab hours do most of their learning online, and come to a lab twice per week, observing responsible social distancing practices in which there are never more than ten people in a room. In addition, Southern Careers Institute has enhanced lab cleaning practices by disinfecting classrooms and equipment after each use and providing hand sanitizing stations and wipes to students in the labs. Programs not requiring lab hours such as Administrative Assistant, Business Administration, Business Accounting Specialist, Medical Billing and Coding, and Computer Support Specialist are now conducted completely online and each course can be completed in just three weeks.
“We’re proud of the way that our staff has been able to adapt and meet the needs of our students, and the feedback on the new format has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Southern Careers Institute President, Nikki England. “The health and safety of our staff, students and the community are always important, and preserving that while still being able to deliver a first-class education has been invaluable.”
The transition to online classes has proved to be beneficial in a number of ways and has enabled students and instructors to learn valuable skills. “We are still on track working toward our goal despite everything that’s going on,” said Cosmetology Program Student Council President, Anastasia Vazquez. “The instructors have been very helpful not just with the class syllabus, but by providing video tutorials and even scheduling guest speakers to compliment the program.”“Aside from keeping our Southern Careers Institute community safe, our priority is to keep our students motivated, engaged and on track,” said Southern Careers Institute Harlingen Campus Director, Scott Hooks. “Our programs and certificates are training individuals in vital and essential fields.”
1: SCI medical students in lab
2: SCI Instructor checking the temperature of a student before they enter lab
