Texas Border Business
McAllen, Texas – Thanks to funding provided by two significant grants awarded by Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), getting ahead is now easier than ever for continuing education students at South Texas College.
Continuing Professional and Workforce Education (CPWE) at STC will begin assisting students with low literacy skills who either lack a high school diploma or who may not have the skills needed for employment.
These students now have the ability to get ahead by receiving the skills and credentials needed to find good jobs.
A combined total of $659,340 has been awarded by TWC and was recently authorized by the Board of Trustees for acceptance at STC. The two grants include $499,895 from the Accelerate Texas IV: Integrated Education and Training grant, and $156,445 from TWC Pell Grant Ability to Benefit Capacity Building.
The funding period for both grants began on Jan. 1, 2019 and will last until Dec. 31, 2020.
“These grants will allow us to provide 277 participants with the skills and credentials to be able to find employment,” said CPWE Director Olivia De La Rosa. “The target population for both grants are individuals with low literacy skills who either lack a high school diploma to be able to find employment or who may have their high school diploma or GED but who may not have the skills needed for employment.
“Our goal is to get individuals on a path to self-sufficiency and a better quality of life,” De La Rosa said.
The Accelerate Texas IV: Integrated Education and Training grant will support approximately 200 participants to complete a recognized postsecondary credential with job placement support. Students will be concurrently enrolled in Workforce Training and adult education and literacy services.
The grant is slated to help individuals who are English language learners and who are at or below 8.9 on their Texas Assessment for Bilingual Education (TABE) exam.
It will assist individuals who do not have a secondary school diploma, as well those who already have a high school diploma but who are interested in certificate training in phlebotomy, pharmacy, structural welding, pipe welding, forklift, Maintenance and Repair, or Microsoft Office or training as a Nurse Assistant, Medical Administrative Assistant, or First Responder.
The Ability to Benefit Capacity Building grant will support at least 77 participants who will be recruited, assessed, and tested for program eligibility, according to Dr. Virginia Champion, STC Director of Grant Development, Management, and Compliance.
The program will serve individuals who do not already have a high school credential and who have at least an 8th grade level in Reading, Writing, and Math. Participants will complete at least six credit hours of 225 clock hours that are applicable toward a degree or certificate offered at STC, as well as toward the completion of an Occupational Skills Award or a Level 1 Certificate, both of which are considered postsecondary credentials.
“Participants in this grant will also receive support for job placement and training in job readiness skills and college success,” Dr. Champion said. “Training will be in the areas of Computer and Internet Specialist, Medical Office Specialist, Payroll Assistant, and Structural Welding.”
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