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All three Contra Costa Community College District schools have been recognized for the accomplishments of students enrolled in their career education programs, with the district receiving 42 “Strong Workforce Stars” from the state.
Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College and Los Medanos College have been singled out by the statewide program, aimed at promoting career education outcomes in California community colleges.
The program recognizes community college graduates for showing gains in three areas “essential” for advancing in post-college life: substantial increase in earnings, attainment of a living wage and employment in a job related to their field of study.
“Strong Workforce Stars Career Education programs are proven to help Californians increase their earning power,” said Van Ton-Quinlivan, Executive Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Digital Futures at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. “With the introduction of levels this year, we are able to highlight those programs that are seeing significant results, as well as those that are on the rise toward even greater success.”
Now in its second year, the program has introduced a set of categories used in order to determine the level of excellence achieved by a course.
Gold Stars are reserved for programs in which graduates achieved strong outcomes in all three of the aforementioned key areas. Silver Stars are for programs in which graduates achieved two of the three criteria and Bronze Stars are allocated for programs where students achieved excellence in one key area.
This year the Strong Workforce Program awarded 114 Gold Stars, 296 Silver Stars and 977 Bronze Stars in total.
“At the Contra Costa Community College District, one of our main goals is to provide superior educational programs that lead to career ladder opportunities for our students. This recognition for our colleges affirms that what we collectively are doing yields successful outcomes,” Drew Douglass, Senior Dean of Workforce and Economic Development, said in a statement.
“We have dedicated and passionate teams of faculty and staff that tirelessly and effectively serve our students. The fact that each of the colleges in the District received this level of recognition truly is a testament to that,” Douglass added.
Contra Costa College earned five stars overall, four bronze for its programs promoting employment as a business accounting technician, medical assisting and office technician, nursing, and the culinary arts. Achieving its lone Silver Star was the school’s automotive technology program.
Diablo Valley College programs earned a total of 18 stars, with 15 Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars for construction inspection and construction management, and three Gold Stars for accounting, dental hygiene and plumbing, pipe fitting and steamfitting.
A total of 12 stars were given to programs at Los Medanos College in Pittsburgh. Three Silver Stars were distributed for the school’s basic law enforcement academy, early childhood education and process technology programs, in addition to a Gold Star for the success of their registered nursing graduates.
A full list of schools recognized as well as the programs awarded stars can be found on the Strong Workforce Stars program website.