Career Services Hosts Two Successful Events

The Career Services Office kicked off the year once again with two successful Career Fairs. On February 15, the Center for Automotive Technology building at the Access Road Campus was a hub of activity with the 2006 Transportation Technologies Career Fair. This year, 26 local and national automotive, collision and marine providers from the New England area attended to recruit students and graduates from the Automotive Technology and Automotive Collision Repair Technology programs. Some of the participating employers were INSKIP, Bridgestone/Firestone, Speedcraft VW-Chrysler & Dodge, Nationwide Insurance, Sullivan Tire, BOCH Enterprises, Cumberland Farms, R.A. Mitchell, United Rentals and ZF Marine. Representatives from the companies had informational material on hand as well as some vehicles on display. Students were very excited to get the chance to look at and sit in a 2006 Volkswagen GTI and 2006 Pontiac GTO brought by Fiore Pontiac-GMAC-VW. Companies were impressed with the student turnout, stating, “Students seem to be more polished. I was most impressed with their attitudes”. They were also very impressed with New England Tech’s new 53,000 square foot Automotive Technology building.
    Another annual event, Career Expo 2006, was held on March 9 in the CT Building. Fifty-five New England based and national companies attended to meet enthusiastic and well-trained students and graduates. Potential employers welcomed the opportunity to discuss their technical positions and career opportunities. Care New England, Citadel Broadcasting, CVS Pharmacy, Lockheed Martin, National Grid, WPRI, ABC 6, and The U.S. Department of State were a few of the many companies that contributed to the success of this year’s event. Representatives from the companies that attended were very impressed with the overall quality of candidates. “Students were professional and prepared,” stated one representative. “I met some excellent candidates,” said another.
    Thank you to everyone who helped to make these two important days a huge success.

Exeter Job Corps Academy signs Articulation Agreement

Joseph DiPina, Director of the Exeter Job Corps Academy in Exeter, Rhode Island, has announced that students in the Exeter Job Corps Academy will have the opportunity to earn college credit under the newly formed articulation agreement between New England Institute of Technology, and the Academy. Through this agreement, students taking courses at Exeter Job Corps Academy may earn college credit through the Advanced Tech Program at the college. Credits may be earned by taking specific courses towards degrees in Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Clinical Medical Assistant Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology, and Surgical Technology.
    Job Corps is America’s leading career skills training and education program for youths ages 16 - 24. Administered by the US Department of Labor, Job Corps trains 65,000 students each year on 122 campuses across the country. The Exeter Job Corps Academy opened in November 2004 and serves 200 young men and women and provides training in six vocational areas to include Culinary Arts, Construction, Manufacturing, Information Technology, Health Occupations and Business Technology. The Exeter Job Corps Academy is operated by Adams and Associates of Reno, Nevada.
   “By transferring credits, students may receive advanced standing and reduce the costs of tuition,” said Tara Totoro, Assistant Coordinator of High School Programs at New England Tech. Linda Soderberg, Vocational Center Manager, said “Earning college credit while in school is an outstanding opportunity for students planning to pursue careers in the technical fields.”
   Raymond Ankrom, representing Manufacturing Technology; Susan Hardy, RN, representing Health Careers; and Craig Swift, representing Information Technology; from The Exeter Job Corps Academy worked together with New England Tech’s Nick LaManna, Information Technology Associate Professor and Associate Chair; Bruce Feodoroff, Mechanical Engineering Technology Associate Professor and Chair; Paula Cantwell, Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology Associate Professor; and Tara Totoro to develop the articulation agreements.
    Mr. DiPina said, “The Exeter Job Corps Academy is excited by this creative partnership with NEIT as it lends significant credibility to the quality of instruction offered in our vocational programs. As one of the nation’s newest Job Corps Centers, the Exeter Academy is fortunate to have established leaders in higher education who support our program. Our students are excited about the possibility of applying the work they have done at the Academy towards tangible college credit, saving them time and money in working towards an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. We are extremely appreciative of this wonderful opportunity and look to expand it across our other vocational programs.”
    “Advanced Tech will offer students an opportunity for a head start in a career area and also get them involved in a post-secondary education with a specific direction in mind,” said Ms. Totoro. “We congratulate the administration and faculty at Exeter Job Corps Academy for offering this opportunity to their students.”