A story in the Jan. 27 Jobs Outlook package in your classified section ("Colleges strive for workplace link") mentions some regional colleges responding to workforce training needs with new academic programs. Left out was initiatives undertaken by Hudson Valley Community College aimed at directly responding to the Capital Region's growing workforce needs.
During the past year, we created a certificate program in semiconductor manufacturing technology, which provides a direct pathway into that growing field. The one-year certificate complements our associate degree program in the same field.
Last year, we began offering a two-year associate degree in polysomnography for students interested in becoming sleep lab technicians. Hudson Valley was one of four colleges across the state to develop an academic program for this career when sleep lab technicians became a licensed profession.
This spring, the college also added a new two-year degree in entrepreneurship, which is designed to help small-business owners gain a strong foundation of business knowledge and help her or him create a viable business plan. It is the only degree program with a singular focus on entrepreneurship in the Capital Region and beyond.
Hudson Valley has been a leader in workforce training initiatives for six decades. In addition to our 70-plus degree and certificate programs, the college's Workforce Development Institute provides customized credit-free training to the business community.
Those are just a few examples of how Hudson Valley is working hand-in-hand with individuals, local business and industry sectors to provide skills and education for the careers in demand today.
DREW MATONAK
President
Hudson Valley Community College
Troy
