(To Editors: If you use this release, please consider using the attached
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
BILL GRIFFIN AT 203-332-5056
NEW HCC COURSES TO HELP WORKERS, BUSINESSES COMPETE
By Peter J. Carey
BRIDGEPORT - New courses designed to make area manufacturing
workers more productive and competitive in today’s global marketplace
will be offered by Housatonic Community College starting in January.
These non-credit courses have been developed primarily to benefit employers
and workers in the metal manufacturing industry, one of the Bridgeport
area’s largest employment sector. They will be offered as part
of HCC’s Project Advance, a program that helps employers and workers
develop and refine their workplace skills to successfully compete in
today’s global manufacturing economy.
“Our purpose is to develop programs that respond to the needs out
there in business and industry in terms of workforce skill development,”
said Bill Griffin, director of business and industry services at HCC.
Employers play an active role in course development through cooperation
and consultation with HCC, Griffin said. Project Advance, he noted,
was developed in response to a survey of 900 area businesses that pinpointed
their training needs.
Courses to be offered include:
- Customized Blueprint Reading. This course includes blueprint reading
related to the manufacturing environment; introduction to the basics
of print reading with a focus on view orientation, drawing, dimensioning,
views, and symbols and specialized print reading.
- CNC-I Training (Computerized Numeric Control). This course is designed
to introduce students to CNC concepts and fundamentals. Subjects include
basic codes, syntax for NC programming, data formats and computer/controller
protocols and operation. Also, job-related communications with other
disciplines such as CAD/CAM are explored.
- AutoCAD-I (Computer-aided Design). This course is designed to introduce
students to AutoCAD concepts and fundamentals. Subjects include drawing
commands and enhancements, basic constructions and geometric figures,
text manipulation, and system variables and objects.
- Introduction to ISO 9001/2000 (International Standards Organization).
This course provides an introduction to ISO 9000 standards. An overview
of management’s responsibility, developing quality systems, designing
controls and establishing preventive and corrective procedures will
be reviewed.
- Auditor Training. This course teaches the principles of quality
auditing procedures in accordance with ISO 9000 standards. The course
will focus on the internal auditor’s responsibilities, the imposition
of a quality auditing procedures, phases of the audit and follow up.
HCC also has developed Project Advise, a program for larger employers
who need and can afford on-site worker training. Courses are customized
for the immediate skill needs of these companies on a course-by-course
basis.
Project Advance helps employers attain the “next competitive level”
so that, in good economic times or bad, area firms can avoid vulnerability
to outside competition, thus saving jobs and ensuring business survival,
Griffin added.
In addition to helping employers keep their workforce’s skills
up to date, Project Advance also enables individual workers in any industry
to gain technical skills that will allow them to better pursue their
own employment goals.
Although the number of workers benefiting from Project Advance’s
offerings increases steadily each year. Griffin is bringing it into
other business sectors, including retail, the financial and insurance
sector, real estate, and information technology.
“We’ve barely scratched the surface,” Griffin said.
For more information about Project Advance, call Griffin at 203-332-5056.
With a five-year-old campus in the heart of Connecticut's largest city,
Housatonic is one of the region's fastest-growing public community colleges.
Since it moved to the new campus in January 1997, HCC's enrollment has
increased by 70 percent. According to the most recent statistics released
by the Washington D.C.-based American Association of Community Colleges,
HCC is the second fastest-growing community college in New England.
In response to increased enrollments and changing workplace needs both
regionally and nationally, HCC has increased the number of programs
offered from 43 to 66 since moving to the new campus.
The college is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in Bridgeport, less than
150 yards off I-95 and Rte. 8.
Peter J. Carey is a journalism student at Housatonic Community College.
