For Immediate Release
February 12, 2008
IVC’s Electronic Technology Programs Awarded CalWomenTech Site Grant to Receive Free Training and Technical Assistance for Recruitment and Retention of Women in Technology Programs |
IRVINE, CA – Irvine Valley College (IVC) has been selected as one of eight California community colleges who were selected in a competitive process to receive free intensive CalWomenTech training and assistance on recruiting and retaining women in technology programs in which they are under-represented, for approximately three years. The focus of the program will be terminal associate degrees or certificates in programs for newly emerging industries with jobs that are high skill and high wage, and have a strong connection to employers and local labor market demand.
Participation in the CalWomenTech Project will allow IVC to receiving free, intensive training and assistance on recruiting and retaining women in its technology programs for the next three years. This includes a two-day WomenTech training where participants will develop individualized recruitment and retention plans. IVC will also receive customized recruitment materials, including posters and a WomenTech section for the IVC website, as well as on-site training and consulting.
“We are very excited and honored to be included in the CalWomenTech Project,” said Dr. Susan Cooper, Dean, Career Technology Education and Workforce Development for Irvine Valley College. “This program will bring us excellent resources that will assist us in recruiting and retaining women in our technology programs.”
The CalWomenTech Project is the second grant for the National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology and Science (IWITTS) working with community colleges to increase the number of women in technology and its third National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. This is a 5-year Project that will end in April 2011.
The first four CalWomenTech community colleges awards were given in June 2006:
City College of San Francisco Computer Networking and Information Technology Program, with a focus on the new Digital Home Integration Technology certification
San Diego Mesa College's Geographic Information Systems program
Cañada College's new 3-D Animation and Video Game Art Program
El Camino College's Air Conditioning Refrigeration program
The second set of colleges were awarded in December 2007:
Evergreen Valley College's new Hybrid-Alternative Fuel Program
Irvine Valley College's Electronic Technology Program
Las Positas College's Welding and Automotive Programs
San Jose City College's Facilities Maintenance Technology Program
The primary goal of the CalWomenTech Project is to increase the number of women enrolled and retained in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in the eight selected CalWomenTech community colleges.
Irvine Valley College's Electronic Technology program was accepted as school #125 in the Electrician Certification program in the state of California last year. IVC’s goal is to increase its recruitment and retention efforts toward female students. As Irvine Valley College is located in the Irvine Spectrum, the center of the "Technology Coast" extending from Santa Barbara to San Diego, a fast growing region containing six counties and 18 million people with 19,000 technology firms employing 400,000 workers in the computer, software, biomedical, telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics industries, a degree or certificate in Electronic Technology from IVC equips students for immediate employment in these fields. Key Leaders of the project are Dr. Susan M. Cooper, Dean of Career Technology Education & Workforce Development and Raymond Chandos, Electronic Technology professor. For more information on classes and enrollment visit ivc.edu. Irvine Valley College is located at 5500 Irvine Center Drive, on the corner of Jeffery Road and Irvine Center Drive in Irvine.