April 2014

Announcing New IT programs and scholarships at Maine's Community Colleges

Summer is IT in Maine!

And many courses are free!

Starting this month, Maine's community colleges are offering exciting new training opportunities in information technology (IT).

Thanks to a major grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the seven colleges are launching innovative courses and programs to address the growing need for skilled information technology workers across many industries and in all parts of the state.

The many training opportunities made possible by Maine is IT! include:
  • new degree programs in computer forensics, information security, computer technology, and more at community colleges across the state,
  • industry recognized certification in cutting-edge areas of information technology,
  • access to state-of-the-art labs, equipment, and software, and  
  • new credit and non-credit courses in all areas of IT.
If you're an IT professional looking to gain new industry certifications or you're interested in gaining the foundational skills you need to pursue a program of study, Maine is IT! offers numerous pathways to success in IT.  

Contact your local community college to apply, register, or learn more.

Maine is IT!, funded through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant (TAACCCT) Program, is projected to serve nearly 2,100 participants statewide over the next three years.

We'll keep you posted as the colleges continue to work with employer and community partners to roll out new IT training opportunities across the state. In the meantime, please help us spread the word:

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summerSummer is IT in Maine!

Start studying now. For free!

CMCC, EMCC, KVCC, SMCC and YCCC are all offering IT's Summer! scholarships.

The summer scholarship can be used for credit and non-credit courses related to the Maine is IT! grant.

To be eligible students must: 
  • be at least 18 years of age;
  • have completed a 2014-2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.gov;
  • demonstrate financial need as determined by the college; and 
  • be accepted into a Maine is IT! related program for the Fall 2014 semester.
For more information, you'll find contacts at each of the colleges here.

Why IT matters.
  • Maine employers are highly dependent on skilled IT staff.
  • In 2012, there were 3,851 current openings in Maine for information technology occupations.
  • For Computer User Support Specialists, the average salary was about $45,000 in 2012, and the average entry-level wage was $8,380 more than the average entry-level wage for all Maine occupations.
Our partners 
 
Maine is IT! is a statewide effort to address the critical and growing need for skilled information technology (IT) workers across many Maine industries. It's an effort that involves business and industry, trade associations, and government agencies working in close partnership with Maine's seven community colleges to help move Maine forward. In future issues of this newsletter, we'll highlight some of these important partnerships. In this issue, we want to introduce you to the project's Statewide Advisory Council:    
  • Geordan Brown, CMCC student
  • Jay Collier, Program Manager, Project LogIn, Educate Maine
  • Dana Connors, President, Maine State Chamber of Commerce
  • Kat Cormier, CMCC student
  • Michelle Hawley, Grant Project Manager, Maine is IT!
  • Scott Knapp, President, CMCC
  • Betsy Libby, Dean of Academic Affairs, CMCC
  • James McGowan, Executive Director, MCCS Center for Career Development
  • Peter Pare, Director of Maine Department of Labor Bureau of Employment Services
  • Helen Pelletier, Director of Public Affairs, MCCS 
  • Judy Pelletier, TAA Program Manager, Maine Department of Labor Bureau of Employment Services
  • Beth Shorr, President, Foundation for Maine's Community Colleges
  • Heather Stott, Senior Director, Job Connection, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
  • Glenn Wilson, Director of Information and Innovation/Associate Research Professor, USM
  • Barbara Woodlee, MCCS Chief Academic Officer
This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use, by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes, is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
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The MCCS is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please call the MCCS Human Resources Director at 207.629.4000. The complete notice of Non-Discrimination is available at: http://www.mccs.me.edu/nondiscrimination.html.