New Carpentry Program to Fill Area Workforce Needs
GCCC
[Garden City, KS] April 30, 2020 – With widespread community support, Garden City Community College has developed a new carpentry program that will begin Fall 2020.
The new, 18-credit hour program which has been approved by the Kansas Board of Regents is designed to be completed in one semester to ensure quick entry into the workforce.
In a region where unemployment normally trends lower than national averages and where housing demands continue to rise, the need for building and construction skills is high according to local public agencies and private businesses.
GCCC worked closely with the Finney County Economic Development Corporation, area builders, local school districts, and others to establish need and identify in-demand workforce skills prior to the program’s implementation, according to Marc Malone, Vice President of Instructional Services.
“Our area builders have indicated they do a significant amount of on-the-job training,” Vice President Malone said. “Increasing the number of skilled applicants will allow them to decrease on-the-job training and potentially increase the number of hires, allowing them to increase their production outputs.”
Justin Donecker, president of the Southwest Kansas Builders Association, said members of his organization are “extremely excited” for the program, specifically because it will provide a more skilled and ready workforce for the local building industry.
“In our 22 years of manufacturing structural components, we have realized the need for qualified individuals to work within the field of construction and the importance of having a highly-skilled workforce to assist not only our facility but also our local contractors/industry professionals,” he said.
The certificate program will include six courses covering safety, tools, carpentry basics, framing, roofs, and windows, doors, stairs, and more.
The carpentry certificate aligns with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) industry certification for Carpentry Level 1.
GCCC will begin by accepting high school students into the program for concurrent credit, according to Chuck Pfeifer, Dean of Technical Education & Workforce Development. For more information, contact Pfeifer at chuck.pfeifer@gcccks.edu.
Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.
