Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College And Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program
At Delaware Technical Community College, we recognize the importance of developing strong relationships between the business community and the student community. We have been provided a unique opportunity to engage these two entities through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration's grant program.
Background
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 amended the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program to establish a Community College and Career Training initiative. The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act signed by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2010, included an appropriation of $2 billion over four years to fund and expand this initiative.
As a result, the Department of Labor, in consultation with the Department of Education, announced the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) initiative.
TAACCCT Deliverables
As an associate degree granting community college, Delaware Tech is eligible to receive funding through this grant program. It provides us with an opportunity to expand and improve our ability to deliver education and career training programs that:
- can be completed in two years or less
- are suited for workers eligible for training under the TAA for Workers program
- prepare program participants for employment in high-wage, high-skill occupations
These multi-year grants will ensure opportunities for our students as they achieve the skills, degrees, and credentials needed for high-wage, high-skill employment. At the same time, the business community will be assured of a pool of skilled workers who will meet their specific needs.
TAACCCT Activity
At Delaware Tech, we have the unique position of being the only community college in the State of Delaware and are fortunate to receive all four rounds of TAACCCT funding. Listed below are the timelines and funding levels for each grant round:
- Round 1 (October 1, 2011 – September 30, 2015) $4.9M
- Round 2 (October 1, 2012 – September 30, 2016) $2.5M
- Round 3 (October 1, 2013 – September 30, 2017) $2.5M
- Round 4 (October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2018) $2.4M
TAACCCT Details
Each round has a grant life of four years. During the first three years, each program focuses on development, implementation, and participant enrollment and completion. The last year focuses on employment, evaluation, and outcomes. The emphasis for each round is on education and career training programs to accelerate program completion while providing individuals with workforce skills that are industry and research driven.
Round 1: Programs include:
- Developmental Education programming to assist students in accelerating remedial coursework, such as the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) and the Math Emporium, in order to transition students into college-level courses sooner, while accelerating the timeline towards completion;
- Learning Communities that integrate learning through paired/themed courses;
- The Center for Industry Research & Workforce Alignment (CIRWA), that explores regionally developing industries and labor market opportunities to inform the College’s decisions regarding new program development;
- Six programs of study that lead to certificates or AAS degrees such as Renewable Energy – Solar, Information Security, Powerplant, Sustainable Landscaping, Energy Efficient Manufacturing, and Electronic Health Records.
Round 2: Programs include:
- Nurse Assistant Training Program in which at the conclusion of this 6-credit course, students are eligible to take the Certified Nursing Assistant certification exam;
- Associate Degree Nursing Program in which nursing curriculum was aligned collegewide in order to deliver instruction in a concept-based format, with multiple points of entry and exit. An accelerated component was also included;
- A college-level math course that was redesigned using the Emporium Model to continue to accelerated student progression towards completion.
Round 3: Programs include:
- Electromechanical Engineering AAS program and Building Automation Systems AAS program,
- Short-term training programs, including a National Career Readiness Certificate, Certified Production Technician, and Food Safety Certificates that enhance core competencies and provide a competitive edge in the work environment.
Round 4: Programs include:
- TRANE Center of Excellence Building Automation Systems (BAS) Level 1 and 2 Certifications in which students will have access to state-of-the-art training in Building Automation Systems and obtain stackable credentials leading to further education and employability. These stackable Building Automation Systems certifications are endorsed by the National Coalition of Certification Centers.
- Patient Care Technician Program that prepares students for national certificates in patient care, certified nursing assistant, and phlebotomy, as well as obtaining certification in CPR-Basic Life Support. This program is the only one of its kind available in the state that allows students the opportunity to obtain these three national certifications in one program.
The programs offered through each grant round are intended to help prepare low-wage, unemployed, and displaced workers for jobs. The benefits of this grant cover the Delaware business community, Delaware Tech, and the general population and will provide a skilled workforce for the future of the state. As a result of this funding, Delaware Tech has improved its ability to deliver education and career training programs that can be completed in two years or less, are suited for workers who are eligible for training under the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers program, and prepare program participants for employment in high-wage, high-skill occupations.
Each round of TAACCCT has enhanced employer partnerships throughout the State of Delaware as well as throughout its communities in providing skill-relevant, knowledge-enhanced individuals to grow the workforce and become a part of Delaware’s future growth, sustainability, and prosperity.
Grant program deliverables created or modified under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) initiatives will be available through SkillsCommons.org.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership.