STRENGTHENING THE WORKFORCE Oct 15, 2025 ...through CTE and Workforce Development Submitted by: Karen Torres – Career and Technical Education/Workforce Development Director
Barbering programs empower students to pursue immediate licensure and entrepreneurial paths in the service and personal care sectors. Each program’s curriculum is continuously reviewed to ensure alignment with current industry standards, ensuring maximum job placement for our graduates. In a key effort to expand our reach and enhance community engagement, the Workforce Development department offers a robust array of non-credit, specialized classes. These unique offerings satisfy the community’s demand for everything from personal enrichment to concentrated professional skill-building, creating valuable touchpoints with regional stakeholders and providing an important revenue stream for the college. These highly specialized, practical short- term certifications include essential infrastructure careers in Transportation & Construction, such as the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and Heavy Equipment Operator programs, and classes in Blacksmithing and Metal Art, Trailer Building, Farm and Ranch Welding, and Automotive Snap-on Certifications. There are multiple sources of funding to assist students with tuition and related costs, including gas cards, childcare, and personal protective equipment. We encourage all faculty and staff to recognize and promote the vital role these programs play in LCC’s success, directly contributing to enrollment goals and the economic vitality of our service area. Look for more opportunities coming soon at: https://luna.edu/departments/cte
Luna Community College’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Workforce Development departments are strategically aligned with the college’s mission to be a primary catalyst for regional economic growth – providing our students with multiple opportunities! Our CTE and Workforce Development programs are a high-value proposition for students, offering a direct path to employment through hands-on training that bypasses years of debt and delivers professional salaries in just one to two years. This success is rooted in securing crucial industry-recognized credentials for our graduates, proving their readiness for immediate hire in fields that are resistant to automation and replacement by AI. Furthermore, the strategic use of our Dual Enrollment Advantage is successfully building a robust student pipeline, allowing high school students to earn free college credits and complete foundational technical courses before ever stepping foot on campus as a full-time student. The division maintains a comprehensive portfolio of credit-based programs specifically designed to meet critical labor shortages across Northern New Mexico. This includes high-tech fields like Auto Technology (Mechanics) and Auto Collision Repair, and the foundational skills taught in Welding Technology, which prepare students for AWS-standard certifications that can lead to lucrative careers with entities such as Los Alamos National Laboratories and the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Additionally, our Culinary Arts and Cosmetology/
8
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online