Dorchester, South Carolina
November 18, 2011 – On
November 10, 2011, the Dorchester County Industrial Council (DCIC) boarded a
bus to take their monthly meeting on the road for a visit to the Dorchester
County Career & Technology Center (DCCTC) in Dorchester, SC. The purpose of their visit was to learn more
about the center and how they are working to train area high school students
for future employment in the industrial and manufacturing sector.
The
DCCTC curriculum is of particular interest to the group, as it blends required
academic courses with career and technology education, as well as offers an
opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience through various
partnerships and programs. Currently,
518 students from Dorchester County high schools attend classes at the Career
& Technology Center.
The
group received a guided tour of the facility, which also included opportunities
for one-on-one conversations with instructors and students. The DCIC also spent time observing several
skills classrooms, including Auto Collision Repair, Building Construction,
Electricity, Masonry and Welding.
The
industry leaders were particularly interested to learn about a program that
would allow them to partner with the school to provide real-world, work
experience to the students. The L.I.F.E.
Program – Learners Involved in Field Experience – is designed to reinforce the
skills and qualities needed by employers through part-time student placement in
industrial facilities. The program
includes a specific set of checks and balances to guide the student and
industry through their internship, and also includes a $1 Million Dollar
liability policy on each student placed. Past results have been impressive, with a number of students beginning
full-time employment immediately after graduation.
"This program is
definitely a win-win for both the student and our industry, as it would allow
us to mold the students’ basic skills into our preferred method of operation,"
said Robert DeGolyer of ZAPP Precision Wire, Inc.
"This program
makes sense, and is something we could definitely support," added Lisa Libby of
Briteline Extrusions.
If you would like to
learn more about the Dorchester County Career & Technology Center or the
L.I.F.E. Program, please contact Wendy Smith at wendy@dorchesterforbusiness.com.
