The shaky job market has helped boost registration for Triton College's vocational courses -- enrollment has increased 30 percent in the past year.
"People are looking at investing themselves, improving their resumes and going into vocational training for short-term certificates to help them in the job market," said Paul Jensen, dean of continuing education, the department overseeing the vocational courses.
The percent of job seekers in the Chicago area reached a five-year high this summer. The unemployment rate was 6.8 percent in June, the highest since the end of 2003, according to data from Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The continuing education department went from offering five certificate program last year to now offering 23 certificate programs, Jensen said. Overall, the Triton offers more than 300 vocational courses, including courses Jensen categorizes as personal enrichment.
While vocational classes -- like real estate, project management, massage therapy and home inspection -- have "gone to the roof" in enrollment, the personal enrichment classes -- like art, music and the humanities -- have stayed the same compared to last year, Jensen said.
Beth Luparello, 54, is a student in Triton's 11-week pharmacy technician course. She recently closed her floral business in Oak Park after 25 years.
"Everything was costing too much," Luparello, an Elmwood Park resident, said. "It was time for a change."
Luparello's sister is a nurse and suggested she go to pharmacy school, which Luparello said she is planning to do.
Another Triton student, Tom Zimmerman, 29, said he hopes the continuing education class will help him find work in a hospital pharmacy. He said he wanted to gain some work experience before applying for medical school.
"(The work experience) gives an edge on the application," Zimmerman said.
Jensen said the offerings of the continuing education department can vary widely, depending on student demand. The school relies on surveys and in-person feedback from students to determine where the demand lies, Jensen said.
"At the end of the day, (students) vote with their enrollment," Jensen said. (source) |
