Campus News

Minnesota West Offers Career Pathway Opportunities!

1/29/18

Minnesota West, in conjunction with the SWWC Service Coop and the Future/Pathways to Prosperity United Way grant, is currently offering several pathways of educational learning and hands on exploration to area high school students in high demand career path areas.

“Students who have the opportunity to successfully participate in a college class while still in high school increase their odds of completing a post-secondary certificate or degree. For many students, these opportunities help them determine interests and career paths,” states Kayla Westra, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at Minnesota West. “We are excited about the expansion of our PSEO classes, which currently serve students in on campus, online, and in the high school opportunities.”

Opportunities began in the fall semester 2017 with 54 students from ten high schools participating in Introduction to Medical Careers class. The interest and demand areas expanded for spring semester 2018 included:

The Nursing Assistant class is located on the Granite Falls campus and includes ten students from four high schools.

Introduction to Manufacturing and Engineering, which also includes a job seeking skills component, is based at the Granite Falls campus with 14 students from four high schools.

Information Technology Concepts, which is taught in a hybrid model, which is both hands on and online instruction, has nine students from three schools.

Basic Mechanics, based on the Canby campus, includes four students from Hendricks High School.

Additionally, Minnesota West will be offering an Introduction to Education course to area schools starting in the fall 2018. As a pilot this spring, this course is being offered at Worthington High School, with 15 students enrolled.

For further information on the Career Pathway opportunities, contact Kayla Westra at 507-372-3435.