May 22, 2009
For Immediate Release

RCCC Holds Employer Forum June 2

              SALISBURY, N.C. — Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will hold an employer forum to learn about future workforce needs in the region as the college develops short-term programs designed to help unemployed and under-employed persons get job training as quickly as possible.

               RCCC will host the forum from 10 a.m. to noon on June 2, at the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory Building, on the North Carolina Research Campus, in Kannapolis. All employers who would like to participate are invited. Contact Carolyn Helms at 704-216-3505 or helmsc@rowancabarrus.edu for more information.

               RCCC is seeking input from local employers as it plans a number of time-condensed programs under the "JobsNOW 12-in-6" initiative. JobsNOW is a program requested by the N.C. Gov. Beverly Perdue, developed by North Carolina Community College System, and funded by federal stimulus dollars through the Division of Workforce Development of the N.C. Department of Commerce. JobsNOW 12-in-6 addresses the need to quickly train workers to re-enter the job market in fields that are in-demand locally and across the state.

               The JobsNOW initiative uses a "12-in-6" approach, initially targeting 12 occupational areas a worker can be trained in from one week to six months. RCCC is eligible to receive $350,000 in stimulus funds to develop 12-in-6 programs and hire instructors to teach the classes.

               RCCC will develop and offer six 12-in-6 programs, with the possibility of adding at least three more. The planned programs are in:

• Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration;
• Automotive Systems Technology;
• Electrical/Electronics Technology;
• Nurse Assistant;
• Office Systems Technology, with a medical terminology focus; and
• Welding Technology.

              Programs under consideration include construction/masonry, machining technology, and energy and green technologies.

              RCCC plans to open most of its 12-in-6 programs as soon as August 2009. Unemployed and under-employed persons are eligible to apply. Applications must be completed and submitted through local JobLink Career Centers. Applications will be available in July.

               Normal North Carolina community college tuition rates will apply. However, some education and training funds are available through the local Centralina Workforce Development Board. Most of RCCC's 12-in-6 programs will require approximately six months to complete.

               In addition to receiving the job skills necessary to enter a new career, those completing a 12-in-6 program will receive Career Readiness Certification (CRC). The CRC is a national program that helps job applicants show proof of their basic skills to employers. The certificate is a portable credential, allowing job searchers to use it anywhere in the United States to demonstrate their competence in key foundational skills.

               To start the CRC process, persons first must complete a two-hour career advisement lab. RCCC offers lab sessions at its Cloverleaf Extension Center in Kannapolis (942 Cloverleaf Plaza), and Career Connections in Salisbury (1923 S. Main St.). Day, evening and some Saturday sessions are available.

               Some persons, based on employment status and income, are able to complete the CRC program free of charge. The career advisement labs are free to everyone. For more information about the career readiness certification program and a schedule of career advisement labs, call RCCC at 704-216-3545 or 704-216-3709.

               RCCC is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus counties in North Carolina. RCCC is one of 58 colleges in the state-supported North Carolina Community College System.

                RCCC offers fully-accredited associate-degree programs in more than 40 areas of study, including arts and sciences, business, information technology, health and public services, and engineering technologies. RCCC also offers accredited diploma and certificate programs focused on career training, continuing education and basic skills education. RCCC provides a strong foundation and transferable credits for students moving on to four-year colleges and universities and helps adults get the additional training they need to start new careers.

               RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an overall enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus being developed in Kannapolis. For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.