Florida Hire Ed, allows UWF and Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., to enhance or increase the employment prospects for low-income or under-employed individuals in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Liberty and Calhoun counties in Florida.
Certification training will include programs in information technology and healthcare. Participants will earn industry certificates that represent portable skills recognized by employers nation-wide. UWF and its regional partners will accelerate the pathway to employment for those who successfully complete the program. Graduates can compete for high-skill, high-wage jobs, which will help decrease corporate reliance on workers from other countries.
“We identified the gap between the number of high-skill positions available in our region and the lack of skilled workers available to take those positions long ago,” said UWF President Judith Bense. “This grant will allow us to work with our partner institution, Chipola College, to provide the necessary training that will enable our citizens to fill these positions. Employers will get the skilled workers needed, and our Northwest Florida residents will have greater opportunities to earn a good living.”
The occupations and industries in which UWF and Chipola will provide additional training and education are fields in which many employers end up hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas, due to a lack of skilled workers in the U.S. UWF and Chipola College will enhance or add training in the fields of information technology and healthcare.
“We are looking forward to working with UWF, the Washington-Holmes Technical Center and the Chipola Regional Workforce Board as partners in training more students for high-skill, high-wage jobs in technology and health care,” said Chipola College President Gene Prough. “This project comes at the perfect time for the college and the local economy.”
Other partners include UWF Information Technology Academy, Chipola College Health Sciences, Washington Holmes Technical Center, Chipola Regional Workforce Board, the Workforce Board of Okaloosa-Walton County and regional employer partners.
As further specifics of the proposal are finalized, more details will be made available about the new training and certification that will be offered at both UWF and Chipola College.
About the program (Level I):
A+, Security+, and Windows 7 will prepare participants for a job in a growing profession. The A+ training module focuses on the functionality of input/output (I/O) devices, hardware devices and system software. This program also provides thorough instruction on the latest security threats and risk prevention methods with an in-depth Security + module. Additionally, participants will learn how to install, configure, and maintain Windows 7. Modules cover access to system resources, mobile computing, handling backup and recovery, and more. The course aligns with specific certification modules: Comp TIA A+ (220-701), Security + (SYO-301), and Microsoft Windows 7 (70-680).
About the program (Level II):
UWF Microsoft Systems Administration Certification Training: including Windows 7, Server 2008, Ethical Hacking and Network+: This certification series will give an individual a strong foundation in PC/network security and network management. Participants will work towards several levels of certification and earn 12 college credits that may be applied toward a degree program. Classes are designed for those who have some skill installing software applications and configuring devices on a network but who want to gain credentials and experience in security and network management. The Microsoft Network Administration and Security certification is for professionals who implement, manage, and troubleshoot existing network and system environments based on the Microsoft Windows Server Operating System (2008). Microsoft applications are among the most widely used applications in organizations today. The job roles for certified professionals typically include: systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, network operations analyst, network technician, or technical support specialist. The Ethical Hacking module covers IT industry-wide security topics, including communication security, infrastructure security, cryptography, access control, authentication, external attack, and operational and organization security. Certification exams covered in this class include Windows 7 (70-680), Server 2008 (70-640), Ethical Hacking and Comp TIA Network+.
The University of West Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action institution committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination toward employees, applicants, and students with respect to race, color, religion, age, disability, gender (including gender identity), marital status, national origin, veteran status, and sexual orientation. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to discuss any Equal Opportunity/Equal Access issues of concern with our HR equal opportunity personnel by calling (850) 474-2694 for an appointment. UWF promotes a non-discriminatory work and learning environment by following all applicable Federal and State Civil Rights rules and regulations. An electronic copy of EO Is The Law may be found here: http://uwf.edu/ohr/ebb/Equal_Employment_Opportunity_English.pdf
