NICC tuition-free initiative for short-term training is expanding
Friday, February 25, 2022
The initiative is now expanding to train more of the area’s most sought-after employees.
NORTHEAST IOWA—Northeast Iowa Community College’s offering of three tuition-free certificate programs in healthcare proved so successful the College is expanding the initiative to include more programs.
As a solution to the major workforce shortages, NICC offered tuition-free, short-term training options in healthcare programs including, Phlebotomy Technician, Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and Pharmacy Technician. As a result, enrollment spiked. State funding and local sources, including the Opportunity Dubuque program which is funded through the Dubuque Works initiative, made the tuition-free programs possible. Students also received one-on-one academic and career coaching provided by NICC college and career coaches.
Now, the College has expanded the initiative to four other programs, Advanced Manufacturing, Child Care, Semi-Truck/Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and Culinary Foundations. Developing an employee pipeline to meet the skilled workforce needs of local employers is the primary objective, according to Wendy Mihm-Herold, Ph.D., NICC vice president of business and community solutions.
“From our conversations with multiple business leaders, Northeast Iowa Community College knows that industry sectors are experiencing a skills shortage for in-demand, high-wage occupations. NICC is pooling funding streams from local, state and federal sources, as well local private dollars, to extend tuition-free programming to bridge the skills gap. These programs would not exist without our strong partnerships with employers, Dubuque Works and non-profit organizations,” said Mihm-Herold.
Skilled employee needs in the greater Dubuque area, with annual job openings indicated, include:
- Truck drivers, 259
- Assembler/fabricators, 163
- Maintenance and repair workers, 136
- Construction laborers, 93
- Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, 105
- Childcare workers, 132
- Cooks/food preparation, 234
Local employers are struggling to fill the skilled positions they need.
“We are in need of CDL drivers and have had a CDL position open for at least a year now. We struggle to find anyone qualified with a CDL or anyone willing to obtain a CDL due to the costs of certification,” stated Kelli Klaas, human resources manager for Lime Rock Springs Co., Pepsi-Cola of Dubuque.
Short-term training certificates allow individuals to develop their skills, earn industry credentials and meet acute healthcare provider workforce needs. For more information, visit www.nicc.edu/cpc or call (833) 642-2338 for assistance.