OCTC's GO CAREERS Program Going Virtual

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (08/03/2020) — GO CAREERS started in 2016 and is a collaborative program with the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC), modeled on the highly successful GO FAME program utilizing a "work and learn" format. An advantage of the GO CAREERS program is its accelerated degree path to an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Administration; the change is that the courses are now being offered virtually - while retaining the great cohort environment and live instructor interface.

The degree can be completed attending class two mornings a week online, from your desk or home. Students will graduate in five semesters and the degree is transfer ready, if students are interested in earning a bachelor's degree. The next GO CAREERS cohort begins in September and will graduate in the spring of 2022.

Ashley Cline is a student who earned her degree in the very first cohort of GO CAREERS when she was an administrative assistant to David Little, Executive Vice President of Consumer Banking & Business Operations at U.S. Bank. When asked about the GO Careers program he commented, "GO Careers was intriguing for us from the beginning and we could apply the same development program for financial services as we saw was successful in manufacturing. Our read three years in has been a definitive yes! We remain focused on developing future leaders in our operations and GO Careers blends the job success and development with the Educational knowledge and experience to build our leaders right here in Owensboro."

Completing the degree gave Ashley her academic credentials and confidence to take advantage of new opportunities. Cline added, "GO Careers is a very unique program that's beneficial to those who want to develop their skillset. Being able to work and go to school at the same time worked out great. It proved to be challenging at first, but after the first semester it got a lot better. I knew what was expected of me and put forth the same effort as I did with my job. The amount of support received from my family, friends, co-workers, OCTC and instructors made all the difference in the world. It was hard work but honestly it was well worth it to me." Cline is still with U.S. Bank and is currently a Business Operations Analyst.

The program is a great fit for companies interested in skilling up great employees, dislocated workers looking for a new career path, parents who are unsure about their children's school situation, or anyone interested in completing a business degree. Madison Silvert, President of the Malcolm Bryant Corporation commented, "At the Malcolm Bryant Corporation, our mission is literally our people. We have found few tools as valuable in providing confidence, knowledge and purpose for our team members as GO Careers. It is a life-changing experience for our team members, improving not only their value to us as an organization, but their value to themselves."

Students will attend classes virtually, and there are some independent online courses throughout the program. But this does not mean that students are "alone". Students are assigned a success coach that works with the cohort throughout the program, and helps them navigate college entrance requirements, and any academic or personal issues along the way.

"Most students in the program graduate with little to no debt by utilizing financial aid, the KY Work Ready Scholarship, and grants. Dislocated, furloughed, or underemployed individuals may be eligible for new federal training funds. If a student is willing to do the work, then we will do our best to try and put an aid package together. This model includes services that help students get in, stay in, and complete the program on time," added Antoine Smith-Rouse, OCTC's Workforce Solutions Employer Liaison/Career Navigator.

The GO CAREERS program has been highly successful with 56 students who have completed the program, boasting a 96% retention rate and an average GPA of 3.6/4.0.

"The reasons for the success are that we have great instructors, provide excellent supports throughout the program, and utilize the cohort model" added Cindy Fiorella, Vice President of OCTC Workforce Solutions division. "OCTC was the first in the state to expand this model beyond manufacturing and we knew it had great potential, but even we were surprised at how successful this program has been. Not only do we offer concierge style support throughout, but the cohort model creates a dynamic and supportive learning environment for the participating students."

For more information about the GO Careers program please contact Antoine Smith-Rouse at (606) 278-0209 or via email at antoine.smithrouse@kctcs.edu.

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