Thanks to a three-year, $300,000 Smith Family Foundation grant, Northern Essex Community College will be able to provide a Career Pathways Bridge Program that will place, per year, some 40 advanced English language learners with aspirations of a career in health or information technology on the fast track to reaching their goal.<\/p>\n
This new, two-semester program, which begins in September at NECC\u2019s Riverwalk campus on Merrimack Street in Lawrence, integrates intensive English reading and writing, math, career, and college readiness skills. Northern Essex will receive $100,000 a year for the next three years.<\/p>\n
This program was designed specifically to accelerate the education of advanced English language learners from the Merrimack Valley who are not quite ready to enter a college degree or certificate program.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll too frequently we see students who are advanced in their English speaking skills and want to pursue a degree, but have no awareness of what a health or IT career might entail,\u201d says Irene Chalek, executive director, Center for Adult Education Programs and Practitioners. \u201cAfter completing this program they should have the career awareness and English skills to choose and enter a college Certificate program.\u201d The Career Pathways Bridge Program will fast track these individuals.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany adults don\u2019t have the time or the money to persist,\u201d says Amanda Kelly, coordinator of the Career Pathways Bridge Program. \u201cThis program will accelerate their English skills and bridge them to Certificate programs and eventual gainful employment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an intensive program,\u201d says Chalek \u201cdesigned for motivated students.\u201d All students will be required to complete additional hours of work outside of class.<\/p>\n