JPMorgan Chase & Co. has donated $250,000 to the Austin Community College Foundation to fund scholarships for adult students entering ACC’s Career ACCelerator Program.

Career ACCelerator combines instruction with financial assistance, support services, and paid internships to help adults — particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed — train for high-demand occupations. The Chase donation will fund scholarships for 100 program participants.

“Creating a hands-on learning experience that gives our disadvantaged neighbors an opportunity to ‘earn while they learn’ is something JPMorgan Chase supports with great enthusiasm,” says Joe Holt, JPMorgan Chase Austin Region chairman. “This innovative program creates a wider on-ramp to good-paying jobs.”

ACC’s Career ACCelerator Program initially focuses on addressing Central Texas’ substantial and growing information technology sector. More than 9,000 area job openings require computer or IT skills, according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s important that we expand the pipeline of skilled workers in our region,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president and CEO. “By joining our efforts and resources through community partnerships and the support of organizations like Chase, we can help more Central Texans transition into promising careers.”

The Career ACCelerator program is an extension of ACC’s collaboration with Capital IDEA on its Career Expressway initiative. After launching in fall 2015 with 30 students, spring participation in the program more than doubled.

“This is my third semester in the program and it has made a huge difference in my life,” says Michael Brown, Career ACCelerator student. “I’m getting to go to college, when normally I wouldn’t be able to afford it. I am learning how to become a local area network administrator, essentially getting the skills I need for my future career.”

ACC’s Career ACCelerator currently offers three certificate and degree tracks in IT fields:

• User and Computer Support Specialist (Specialist use and computer support)
• LAN Systems Network Administrator (LAN manager systems interconnection)
• Computer Programming: Software Testing Specialist (Programming: specialist software testing)

The program includes a one-year paid internship to provide students with valuable real-world experience. This week, 13 ACC /Capital IDEA students started an internship with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA). Interns will be setting up and maintaining computers for HACA clients.

For more information about the Career ACCelerator, visit austincc.edu/careeraccelerator.

Tags: ACCelerator, Capital IDEA, career, HACA, internship, IT skills, jobs, JPMorgan Chase, scholarships, training