Campus News
April 4th, 2023
Garrett College CEWD keeps evolving
Marine technology, culinary, accelerated paramedic to be launched
Former Garret College paramedic student Karen Tingle works through a hands-on classroom session. GC will be offering an accelerated, one-year paramedic degree program in a hybrid format.
Local workforce needs are constantly evolving – and so is Garrett College’s Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development.
"The skills and training local businesses require are always changing," said Julie Yoder, Garrett College’s dean of continuing education and workforce development. "We communicate regularly with Garrett County business owners to determine what skills they need and how we can prepare local residents to obtain employment that provides high-paying career paths."
Yoder said that philosophy led Garrett College to create two news programs and an accelerated path in a current program offering, all of which will launch in 2023.
Marine Technology and Kitchen/Line Cook are the two new programs. In addition, GC will be offering an accelerated, one-year paramedic degree program in a hybrid format.
"Local marinas told us they struggle to find people who have the training to repair marine equipment," said Yoder. "And area culinary operations told us they don’t have enough appropriately trained cooks. The lake and culinary industries are critical to our economy, so it became a top priority for us to develop programs to address those needs."
A regional deficit of certified paramedics led Yoder and her staff to develop an accelerated paramedic degree program.
Several years ago, GC built an innovative program that permits students to obtain 30 credits – half of the total required credits for an associate’s degree – for their non-credit paramedic coursework. The new option allows paramedic students to finish the noncredit or credit program in one year, requiring just one day a week on campus completing clinical requirements.
"The accelerated program is just as rigorous as our other paramedic options and fully accredited," said Yoder. "It just provides an opportunity for students wishing to accelerate their pathway to do so."
Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president, said the new programs and additional paramedic option are just the most recent examples of CEWD’s commitment to meeting emerging community needs.
"CEWD’s philosophy is built upon being nimble and flexible," said Midcap. "Little in the business world stays static. I’m really impressed with the connections Julie and her staff have built and maintain – those connections are critical to meeting their training mission."
Yoder said the Garrett County Commissioners’ financial support of workforce development has been pivotal.
"Several years ago, the Commissioners approved expanding the Garrett County Scholarship Program to include funding for recent high school graduates to obtain county-paid training leading to workforce certifications," noted Yoder. "Last year, they further expanded the scholarship program to include $45,000 annually for non-traditional student workforce training as well as ongoing professional development for workers at local businesses.
"That county support is increasing opportunities for local residents to receive training to obtain employment and professional development to advance in their careers," added Yoder.
