26 May ICC reorganizes Career and Workforce Division, promotes Barry Emison May 26, 2021 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 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. As an adult learner, I felt out of place. I knew that I had certain talents and skills, just as all adult learners do. College can be very intimidating, so I want to continue to emphasize the message that college can be for anyone, especially for those who choose to build skills to enter the workforce. I was thrilled when an opportunity arose that allowed me to return to ICC 26 years ago to teach Tool and Die to others just like me. I look forward to the challenge of this new role which merges two divisions that enables us to better serve the needs of our industry partners as well as promote economic development in our region.” In addition to the associate’s degree from ICC, Emison earned the bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and the master’s degree from the University of Mississippi. His experience includes more than 20 years as a Career and Technical/Workforce instructor at ICC, 11 years in manufacturing and eight years in the military. He was the recipient of the 2008 Meritorious Achievement award and the 2010 Award for Excellence, both from ICC and the 2010 Award for Excellence in Vocational Education from the Mississippi Manufacturers Association. Emison represented ICC as its HEADWAE honoree in 2014 and NISOD honoree in 2010. He is an active member of SkillsUSA and the National Institute of Metal Working Skills. In addition to Emison’s promotion, TZ Waters of Tupelo, current director of Workforce Training and Pathways, will have increased responsibilities so her title will be changed to director of Workforce Education. She will take the lead on all workforce-related projects and assist Emison in interaction with industry partners. A new director of Career Education will be hired. “This combination (of positions) will allow us to further integrate workforce and career education and make it a seamless product that we provide to our workforce and economic development partners,” Allen said. “I’m excited about this reorganization since it’s a great opportunity for the College to further align two areas for a seamless merge.” Related Articles ICC joins in commemoration of February as 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.” 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 ... 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, The W sign MOU to provide educational opportunities for students pursuing sspecific career education programs with desire to earn bachelor's degree Itawamba Community College and Mississippi University for Women signed a memorandum of understanding today [Sept. 19] to provide educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in specific career education programs with a desire to eventually earn a bachelor’s degree. The agreement establishes a pathway by which students earning an appropriate Associate of Applied Science degree from ICC may complete a baccalaureate degree at The W. According to the agreement, both institutions will work together to enroll students in degree completion programs for ICC’s career education graduates. Both colleges will advise and encourage ICC students, alumni and constituents to promote these programs to each institution’s stakeholders and throughout the local community college district. The pathways will provide for students in certain degree areas to transfer up to 90 credit hours to The W after graduating from ICC. Included are computer networking and cybersecurity, computer programming, business and marketing management, hospitality management, paralegal and construction management. According to Dylan Baldwin, dean of Career Education at ICC, “This partnership with Mississippi University for Women creates a remarkable pathway for our students. By completing three years ... ICC offers free short-term career pathways through December to those who qualify Itawamba Community College is offering several free short-term career pathways to those who qualify from now until the end of December as part of the ReSkill Mississippi Initiative. The program is designed to help ease the economic burden and uncertainty the pandemic has created for the state’s workforce. ICC is utilizing the resources to enhance or start new workforce development training and/or career education programs that would positively impact underemployed, unemployed, furloughed and/or otherwise displaced individuals who are experiencing economic hardships as a result of COVID-19, said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. ICC has utilized the ReSkill Mississippi funds to create short-term pathway programs in medical administrative assistant, quality improvement associate, introduction to industrial maintenance and electrician assistant. They join a list of 14 other pathway programs, which also offer free tuition opportunities for those who qualify through December. Allen, who serves as chair of the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Workforce Committee, and Tyler Camp, chief of staff and special assistant to the president, were instrumental in securing the more than $49 million to ... Metallica Scholars Initiative workforce education program expands in year 7; ICC one of two in Mississippi to receive grant Metallica Scholars Initiative workforce education program expands; Itawamba Community College one of two in Mississippi Year 7 is largest grant to date with approximately $3 million committed, Expected to reach approximately 10,000 students Fulton, Miss. – All Within My Hands, the nonprofit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, recently announced its Year 7 of its Metallica Scholars Initiative with its largest grant to date, totaling approximately $3 million. Itawamba Community College was among those whose grants were renewed for the third time. MSI now has a presence in 75 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam and is expected to reach approximately 10,000 students. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is the state’s other representative. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the continuing recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs and the lives of those who will receive scholarships to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication ... ICC provides innovative delivery of several workforce classes Itawamba Community College is providing innovative delivery of several Workforce classes to enable individuals to enroll in three online courses to meet the needs of its workforce partners as well as those of all individuals who are interested in skilling up or exploring job opportunities. The available courses, which are a collaboration between ICC’s Workforce and eLearning divisions, include Forklift: Train-the-Trainer, Forklift Operator Training and Lockout-Tagout: Isolation of Hazardous Energy. “ICC’s staff, particularly Workforce and eLearning, have done an exceptional job in transitioning current courses to an online format,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “With the reduction of face-to-face classroom and training opportunities as the College is impacted by COVID-19, they explored methods of meeting the needs of not only our workforce partners but individuals who are interested in attaining more or better skills to enhance their current or future job options. These three classes are only a start since work is continuing to offer additional opportunities.” The hybrid Forklift Operator Training course includes instruction on safely operating a forklift in industry ... Comments are closed.