Monday, October 30, 2006
Good News from Clover Park Tech
I'm overdue on sharing happy Lakewood news from a recent meeting of the Clover Park Technical College's General Advisory Council. I represent Comcast on the council, but as a Lakewood guy I'm also always happy to hear about great goings on both at CPTC and at Pierce College. Education is important to the economy, but education is important to the entire community.
I took about a page of notes at the CPTC meeting, and this is a very subjective summary. Lots going on there.
1. CPTC just started a histology technician program. Histology technicians are most famous for preparing slides of crime evidence and bantering with TV detectives, but in real life these are folks who can work in human clinical, veterinary or research laboratories.
2. CPTC is opening a business development center to help grow business within Lakewood and, of course, surrounding areas. Sometimes the big difference in whether a business succeeds or fails is not the business model, or cash flow, but the education and knowledge base of its operators. The center will have many features, including a free business assessment for CPTC students. As a bonus, the center is also the new home of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.
3. CPTC is establishing a microlending program, which is a fancy term for a small loan program. It's also sometimes called microcredit. Banks often deal in loans of tens of thousands of dollars, whereas someone who wants to open a coffee stand or set up a beautician practice may not need so much, or so many hurdles.
Other bits of happy news:
State Farm donated two hybrid vehicles that have been in wrecks, so students at CPTC can practice auto tech skills on hybrids.
The college is develping anatomy and microbiology courses to increase the number of classes people can take on campus in preparation for health care careers.
A student center is under construction. Not only will it provide Lakewood's largest public meeting area, but it will house several programs such as retail business marketing and the floral program.
With some of the space freed up by the move of these programs, there are plans to create a 'spa' where visitors can drop in and get worked on by students in several programs, such as massage and cosmetology.
A waterfront construction program helps students learn how to build things like piers and docks (always relevant in Lakewood and Tacoma).
A horticulture option is being added to the landscape management program.
A competitive Opportunity Grant will help covers costs to help bring dozens of students into the job market in such occupations as nursing and environmental cleanup.
If your computer allows it, you can watch a video about the college.
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I took about a page of notes at the CPTC meeting, and this is a very subjective summary. Lots going on there.
1. CPTC just started a histology technician program. Histology technicians are most famous for preparing slides of crime evidence and bantering with TV detectives, but in real life these are folks who can work in human clinical, veterinary or research laboratories.
2. CPTC is opening a business development center to help grow business within Lakewood and, of course, surrounding areas. Sometimes the big difference in whether a business succeeds or fails is not the business model, or cash flow, but the education and knowledge base of its operators. The center will have many features, including a free business assessment for CPTC students. As a bonus, the center is also the new home of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.
3. CPTC is establishing a microlending program, which is a fancy term for a small loan program. It's also sometimes called microcredit. Banks often deal in loans of tens of thousands of dollars, whereas someone who wants to open a coffee stand or set up a beautician practice may not need so much, or so many hurdles.
Other bits of happy news:
State Farm donated two hybrid vehicles that have been in wrecks, so students at CPTC can practice auto tech skills on hybrids.
The college is develping anatomy and microbiology courses to increase the number of classes people can take on campus in preparation for health care careers.
A student center is under construction. Not only will it provide Lakewood's largest public meeting area, but it will house several programs such as retail business marketing and the floral program.
With some of the space freed up by the move of these programs, there are plans to create a 'spa' where visitors can drop in and get worked on by students in several programs, such as massage and cosmetology.
A waterfront construction program helps students learn how to build things like piers and docks (always relevant in Lakewood and Tacoma).
A horticulture option is being added to the landscape management program.
A competitive Opportunity Grant will help covers costs to help bring dozens of students into the job market in such occupations as nursing and environmental cleanup.
If your computer allows it, you can watch a video about the college.
