27 January ICC joins in commemoration of February as Career Education Month January 27, 2025 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College is joining two-year institutions across the United States in commemorating February as Career Education Month. “Career education is a major part of the solution to such economic and workforce issues, including high school dropout rates, a weakened economy, global competitiveness and massive layoffs,” said Dylan Baldwin, dean of Career Education at ICC. “Career education associate’s degrees can pay $10,000 more per year than those in other fields, sometimes even more than bachelor’s degrees, while limiting student debt.” Recent news reports indicate that those who now realize that immediate employment in the skilled trades and no student debt lead to promising careers are referred to as “The Toolbelt Generation,” Baldwin said. “Many are benefitting from the secure job track and high earnings potential these career education jobs now provide. Additionally, federal data shows that trade school students are more likely to be employed after school than their degree-seeking counterparts and much more likely to work in a job related to their study.” According to the latest figures available from the Association for Career and Technical Education, 21,897 postsecondary career education participants in Mississippi are developing technical, academic and employability skills and engaging in work-based experiences with industry partners. “These youth and adult learners enrolled in career education programs are more engaged, graduate high school at higher rates, earn industry-recognized credentials and have rewarding and family-sustaining careers,” the ACTE noted. In addition, there were 22,717 postsecondary credentials earned. Career education programs, such as advanced manufacturing; agriculture, food and beverage; distribution, logistics and forestry; construction and information technology can fill skills gaps, particularly in Mississippi’s key industries. Fifty-seven percent of jobs in Mississippi require skills training, more education than high school, but less than a four-year degree, and only 50 percent of the state’s workers are trained at this level, the ACTE report continued. Itawamba Community College’s Career Education programs include Automotive, Business and Marketing Management, Commercial Truck Driving, Construction Management, Criminal Justice, Diesel Equipment, Early Childhood Education, Electrical, Forestry, Heating and Air Conditioning, Hospitality Management, Industrial Maintenance, Information Systems (Computer Networking and Programming options), Paralegal, Precision Machining, Robotics and Automation, Toyota AMT and Welding and Cutting. Four are selective admission, which means that they have a limited number of openings each year and have specific entry-level admission requirements that must be met for being accepted. They are Electrical, Industrial Maintenance, Robotics and Automation and Welding. In addition, 17 pathways, or short-term courses, equip students for early entry into the workforce. For more information, call (662) 407-1525 or email careereducation@iccms.edu. Related Articles ICC joins two-year colleges in February commemoration of Career Education Month Itawamba Community College is joining two-year institutions across the United States in commemorating February as Career Education Month. “Career education is a major part of the solution to such economic and workforce issues, including high school dropout rates, a weakened economy, global competitiveness and massive layoffs,” said Dylan Baldwin, dean of Career Education at ICC. “Career education associate’s degrees can pay $10,000 more per year than those in other fields, sometimes even more than bachelor’s degrees, while limiting student debt.” According to the latest figures available from the Association for Career and Technical Education, 23,062 postsecondary career education participants in Mississippi are developing technical, academic and employability skills and engaging in work-based experiences with industry partners. “These youth and adult learners enrolled in career education programs are more engaged, earn industry-recognized credentials and have rewarding and family-sustaining careers,” the ACTE noted. In addition, there were 16,064 postsecondary credentials earned during the same time period. Career education programs, such as advanced manufacturing; agriculture, food and beverage; distribution and logistics and forestry, construction and information technology can fill skills gaps, particularly ... ICC joins National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week celebration, Sept. 15-21 Itawamba Community College’s Adult Education Department is celebrating September 15-21 as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. ICC President Dr. Jay Allen kicked off the commemoration with the signing of a proclamation designating the nationwide event. Additional activities will include Adult Education staff reading to students in both of ICC’s Early Learning Centers (Fulton and Tupelo) during the week. “The goal of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week is to work side-by-side in every state, territory and district to heighten public awareness, strengthen alliances, leverage resources and increase the number of people who understand the vital role adult education and family literacy play in our nation’s and state’s well-being,” according to Audra Perry, ICC director of Adult Education. In signing the proclamation, Allen said that he “supports the goals and ideals of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week and recognizes the efforts of ICC’s Adult Education Department and its instructors in Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe and Pontotoc counties and encourage the participation of all individuals to achieve a high ... ICC/The W sign MOU for bachelor's degree program in elementary/special education Itawamba Community College and Mississippi University for Women signed a memorandum of understanding today (Nov. 1) to offer an undergraduate program of study that will lead to a bachelor’s degree in elementary education or special education from the School of Education at The W. “We are excited to announce this partnership with ICC that strengthens our commitment to providing access and new pathways for our students,” said W President Nora Miller. “Together we are dedicated to fostering academic growth and preparing teachers for their classrooms.” “This agreement will allow our students to now have an opportunity to transfer their credits and work toward a bachelor’s degree at MUW in a discipline in which they are truly passionate,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “This degree opportunity recognizes the value of both elementary and special education degrees offered at Mississippi’s community colleges and the impact they are making not only on Mississippi’s workforce but to provide an unparalleled foundation for our children in the state and beyond. This allows our previous, current and future elementary education or special education majors a natural ... ICC reorganizes Career and Workforce Division, promotes Barry Emison Itawamba Community College has reorganized its Division of Career and Workforce Education to better serve its industry partners and to make a more significant impact on the economic development efforts, not only for this region but also the entire state, according to President Dr. Jay Allen. Barry Emison, who has served as the dean of Career and Technical Instruction since 2015, will become the newly-created vice president of Career and Workforce Education, a Cabinet-level position. Six years ago when he transitioned into the dean’s position from a teaching role as instructor of Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology, Emison talked about a pipeline for learning, and he was emphatic that adult learners have a place in education. Emison attended college at ICC as an adult learner, so he knows from experience. “When I graduated from high school, college was not an option,” he said. “I took an entry level job in manufacturing, and it was immediately evident that I needed a skillset. Three years later, I enrolled in Tool and Die Technology while continuing to work full time at night. ... ICC celebrates April as National Welding Month; students in Metallica class share their stories Chris Adair of Saltillo is a student in Itawamba Community College’s welding class that has been funded by a grant from Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands. He and his classmates as well as all students in ICC’s welding classes are joining in the celebration of April as National Welding Month. Adair said that enrolling in the class was a great opportunity to learn welding. “I’m hooked on a hobby that I can have for a lifetime.” His grandfather was a welder for both the Navy and NASA. “I would have made my grandfather proud. I can feel his arms on mine when I stick weld.” A general studies graduate in 2018, Adair said he didn’t know what his future would bring. He said he spent a lot of time playing video games. “I didn’t know what to do. I saw the opportunity and decided to go for it. I was nervous at first, but I’ve started a hobby that I enjoy.” Adair and his classmates have different stories, but their chance meeting in ICC’s welding class has given them ... Itawamba Community College receives $100,000 and joins 41 other schools across the US as All Within My Hands' Metallica Scholars Initiative expands in year five Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Itawamba Community College was selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $100,000 to transform the futures of students in the community. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs, providing funding for students to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the College and reinforcement of the mission that students and their success are our top priority.” The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped ... Comments are closed.