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Workforce Education

Region 2000's Training/Education Resources

In addition to the State's workforce development initiatives, there are significant workforce development resources that are exclusive to this positively pro-business region, including:

Central Virginia Community College (CVCC)

One of the Region's most vital workforce development resources is Central Virginia Community College, or CVCC. This visionary institution has become a flagship within the state's community college system because of the many advantages it offers businesses in Region 2000, such as:

Areva Technology Center

The college's commitment to effective workforce development is dramatized by the new Areva Technology Center on its Lynchburg campus. Local industries participated in the planning and funding of this $10-million-dollar, 35,000-square-foot facility—and the result is an extraordinary, real-world training ground for a variety of technical fields. Dedicated labs in the building include RF technology, microcomputer repair, networking, CNC machining, and HVAC technology.

Specialized Training and Degrees

What makes CVCC such a particular asset to local businesses is the college's experience in creating customized certificate and degree programs to fit the exact training objectives of area employers. Here are three prominent examples of that customization:

When a manufacturer of wireless communication systems needed to expand its team of service technicians quickly, CVCC developed an Associate's Degree for Electronics Technicians, and recruited outstanding candidates directly from area high schools.
When a pulp & paper mill became the site of the world's first steam reformer generator, CVCC stepped in to help train 72 employees in this new, environmentally sound technology. The college utilized a Department of Labor grant to develop and implement a college-level certificate program based on 25 credit hours of instruction.
For a company that provides maintenance services to the nuclear power industry, CVCC designed an Associate's Degree Program in Nuclear Support Technology—the only such degree program in the state. For security reasons, enrollment is limited to employees of the company, and the college supplements classroom lessons with instruction at the company's nuclear training simulator.

CVCC's Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education is prepared to tailor training to other specialized needs with offerings such as:

Virginia Contractor Licensing Training
Over 3,000 Distance Learning Courses through ACT Center
Zenger-Miller (Achieve Global) Leadership Training
Specialized Computer Applications
Team Training
ISO 9000:2000
Work Keys

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) & Principles and Practices of Engineering (PE) Prep Training

CVCC (in partnership with Central Virginia Industries) also offers a series of preparatory training classes to engineers planning to take the FE and PE licensing exams for Chemical, Civil, Environmental, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, and Nuclear Engineering.

Work Keys®

Work Keys offers a complete program of job analysis, assessment, instructional support, reporting and training services. The program is built around a common skill scale that accurately measures both the skills of individuals and the skills required for successful job performance. Work Keys© measures eight foundational workplace skills:

Applied Mathematics
Applied Technology
Listening
Locating Information
Observation
Reading for Information
Teamwork
Writing

ACT Center

CVCC's ACT Center for Workforce Productivity Solutions™ offers access to nearly 3,000 web-based courses on topics of current interest. This extensive courseware library now includes a course in Project Management that blends the web-based training with classroom instruction. [ACT, or American College Testing, is an independent, not-for-profit provider of standardized testing tools, including Work Keys.]

Distance Learning

CVCC's Distance Education Program employs various delivery methods including web courses, web-assisted courses, print-based courses, and compressed video.

Students can pursue a variety of undergraduate degree programs (as well as selected graduate programs) via Old Dominion University’s TELETECHNET Site on CVCC's campus. Among the courses of study available in this distance learning program:

IT Systems
Occupational and Technical Studies
Management

Satellite Campuses

The main campus of Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) is located at the heart of Region 2000 in Lynchburg. However, the college also maintains satellites in the Region 2000 communities of Altavista, Bedford, and Brookneal. These locations offer an array of classes and labs utilizing both on-site instructors as well as interactive distance learning instruction.

ISO 9000:2000 Training

CVCC offers ISO 9000:2000 training developed by Plexus Corporation, with a Plexus-trained and approved trainer/coach. Plexus is a training partner of American Society for Quality (ASQ) and their training has been approved by the “"Big Three"” automakers.

The Plexus ISO 9000 Training System™™ consists of three major components: needs assessment, classroom training modules appropriate for each group identified as needing training, and on-site coaching.

CVCC Contact Info

Stan Shoun
(434) 832-7610

Center for Advanced Engineering/
Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program

The Center for Advanced Engineering in Lynchburg brings new options for graduate-level engineering and technical courses to the region. Working with Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University, and Virginia Commonwealth University, the Center offers 15 master's degree programs, all conducted in flexible, interactive class structures.

The Center for Advanced Engineering utilizes a broadband network and the Internet to link local students with graduate engineering courses such as:

Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
General Engineering (various disciplines, including Electromechanical Systems, Automation & Control Systems, and Manufacturing Systems)
Mechanical Engineering
Nuclear Engineering

Non-degree courses of study are also available.

Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program

The CAE is a “"Receive Site"” for in the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program (CGEP)—a distance learning graduate program of five universities in Virginia: George Mason University, Old Dominion University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Tech.

CGEP offers qualified individuals the opportunity to earn a master's degree part time through onsite and televised graduate classes.

Created by the Institute of Manufacturing Technology, the Center for Advanced Engineering is a community-managed, non-profit corporation that exists to aid companies with intensive engineering needs.

CAE Contact Info

Jack Gwinn
(434) 832-7831

For more information, visit www.cae.iddl.vt.edu.

Region 2000 Career Center

The Region 2000 Career Center in Lynchburg, operated by the regional Workforce Investment Board, provides a broad range of employment, testing, and placement services for area employers.

The 10,000-square-foot facility includes a computer lab, conference room, and job search stations. Companies relocating to the area can use the Center as a site for meetings or for the entire interview and selection process—with full access to phones, fax, copiers, e-mail, and Internet connections. Career Center personnel can even assist an employer's HR staff with recruitment by conducting job fairs and performing pre-employment screening.

Training at the Center

Training services available through the Career Center include:

“soft skills” training
specialized training for high-demand jobs using certified trainers
on-the-job training programs tailored to specific needs

In addition, the Center provides job-search assistance to potential employees and offers instructional programs that help cultivate fundamental job skills.

Since opening in 2003, the center has served over two dozen businesses and more than 10,000 employees.

Region 2000 Career Center Contact (for employers):

Deborah Alfers
(434) 455-5940

Private Training Resources

Private training resources in the region include National College of Business and Technology and Miller-Motte Business College, offering classes in areas such as computers/data processing, accounting, and business administration/management.