MILLER-MOTTE TECHNICAL COLLEGE PROVIDES NON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATION OPTIONS WHILE LYNCHBURG CITY SCHOOLS START CAREER AWARENESS AT AN EARLY AGE
By Megan L. House
Whether you are right out of high school, or you have already joined the working world, there are further career options that you might not be aware of. In our economy, preparing for a career can be challenging; however, there are options to earning a degree that start as early as high school. Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) and technical colleges, such as Miller-Motte, are striving to prepare students for entering the workforce and provide alternatives to a typical 4-year college that won’t damage your bottom line too drastically.
“At Miller-Motte, the total cost of an associate degree is usually less than the cost of a single year at a 4-year college or university, so it’s a great option for students looking to commute to school and save a lot of money on their education, while finishing in half the time, so that they can begin earning income more quickly,” said Abe Loper, Miller-Motte community outreach coordinator.
Miller-Motte Technical College offers associate degree programs in Criminal Justice, Electronic Health Records, Business Management, Medical Assisting, Network Administration and Security, Healthcare Technology, and Surgical Technology, as well as a 10-month certification in Massage Therapy.
“Our students pick a course of study and that’s the only career they prepare for,” Loper said. “They graduate having been immersed in their field, ready to begin successful careers.” Currently, their most popular program is Medical Assisting.
“Upon graduation from our Medical Assisting program, our students have skills to work in doctor’s offices, urgent care facilities and hospitals,” said Susie Rowland, Miller-Motte campus director. Their Healthcare Technology program, which includes the basic elements of phlebotomy, various blood collection methods, transpiration techniques and administering electrocardiograms, is also rapidly growing.
Although a technical college might not be a good fit for everyone, they do provide a career jump start at a much lower cost. They also provide online courses, creating a convenient post-secondary education option.
Aside from the tuition difference, Miller-Motte’s programs are all career-oriented, meaning students only take classes in their chosen fields of study.
“We’re a career college, so we focus on preparing a student for a specific career,” Loper said. “This is the equivalent of a student at a 4-year college taking nothing but courses in their major.”
Career development and workforce readiness is not merely important, it is critical.
“Workforce development is vital to the economic growth of any community,” Loper said. “Not only is it important to effectively prepare the next generation for the challenges that they face in a competitive job market, but it’s also important to employers who are looking for well-trained practitioners who are capable and confident.”
At the high school level, Lynchburg City Schools value career readiness and provide many opportunities for middle school and high school students to become career conscious at a young age. A new program at E.C. Glass High School, which will soon be expanding to Heritage High School, was designed to help students be prepared for starting a career in the future. Their career tech internship program pairs students with a business organization for hands-on experience. Additionally, LCS is excited to be launching new “collaboration stations.”
“The furniture is designed for students to work together,” said Cynthia Babb, LCS media relations coordinator. “Students can put their desks together really easily, and then if they need to pull them apart to do independent tests, they [can].” This collaboration-oriented design will enhance communication skills and help students prepare for one day joining the workforce.
Regardless of the career field, Babb pointed out, “When you go to work, you have to learn to work with others.” LCS also offers various types of advanced placement and dual enrollment classes, encouraging students to start early on college courses while still in high school. At the middle school level, they also offer career tech classes to aid students in discovering their interests before even entering high school.
“Lynchburg City Schools does a good job of really making sure students are prepared for work and for the next step in education,” Babb said. Introducing career development at a young age will help students make difficult decisions after completing high school and will ultimately lead to a stronger, healthier workforce.
“A community’s success in educating a workforce that is ready to fill the need of the local economy is what leads to a continuously growing economy, low unemployment, and, ultimately, healthy families and a healthy community,” Loper said.
“Right now, it’s not particularly hard to find a job. It’s hard to find a career.”
LCS and Miller-Motte are striving to help students discover successful career paths without excessively spending money or time.
“Looking at our program offerings, it’s easy to see that we’ve strategically chosen to serve specific industries,” Loper said. “Five of our eight programs are in healthcare, which is a fast-evolving industry that continues to grow. Criminal Justice prepares students for a specific and growing industry, while Business Management and Network Administration and Security prepare them to excel in most environments, regardless of the industry.”
Additionally, Massage Therapy students graduate with the ability to work at spas and chiropractors, as they have obtained a strong basis in anatomy and physiology plus the knowledge to administer therapeutic massage.
“At Miller-Motte, we believe that each student needs to find the school and type of school that fits them best,” Loper said. “We are not the right choice for every student any more than any other school is…We train students to excel in eight very specific careers, and we are very proud of how well we serve our students.”
