Patrick & Henry to use grant funds to increase further dual enrollment opportunities
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — On March 24, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced over $8.1 million in Growth and Opportunity Virginia grants, and of that, Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) will receive $118,545, according to P&HCC.
P&HCC said they will use these funds to increase dual enrollment opportunities in welding for students in Henry County Public Schools and Martinsville City Public Schools. The program will enroll and train 27 students in two years, with participants able to pursue further certification upon graduation.
“This initiative will serve to expand the pool of qualified workers in our area and continue these students on a pathway to careers that provide family-sustaining wages in this high-demand field,” said Rhonda Hodges, Vice President of Workforce, Economic and Community Development at P&HCC.
"We are so proud of the growth we've seen with GO TEC over the last few years. By investing in this program, we are taking direct steps to address workforce pipeline issues and investing in the youth in our region," said Tim Clark, GO Virginia Region 3 Council Chair. "We are excited to grow our regional partners with the projects funded at both Patrick & Henry Community College and Southside Virginia Community College."
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The dual enrollment welding classes will begin in the 2023 fall semester, according to P&HCC.
P&HCC said the following about "GO TEC":
"GO TEC" is a collaborative project that aims to develop the regional workforce in order to meet changing industry demands. The program begins to engage with the student at the middle school level and continues through high school dual enrollment and post-secondary programs. The focus of the project is to further develop the sectors of IT, advanced manufacturing, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) by creating a talent pipeline that begins in K-12.
"GO TEC" uses a hub-and-spoke model to progressively generate the desired robust talent pipeline across Southern and Southwest Virginia. Middle schoolers are introduced early to the occupations and base skill training in Career Connections Labs, an example of a spoke. They are then connected in high school to expanded career and technical courses, industry certification programs, and dual-enrollment training opportunities with higher education partners. Finally, they may progress to advanced-level training at a hub educational provider.
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P&HCC said to achieve this, five targeted, in-demand career pathways have been identified. Program goals and curriculum are led by "GO TEC" staff with the support and guidance of a 21-member GO TEC Advisory Board comprised of businesses, K-12, and higher education—all with equal representation.
