JPMorgan Chase & Co. has donated $250,000 to the Austin Community College Foundation to fund scholarships for adult students entering ACC\u2019s Career ACCelerator Program.<\/p>\n
Career ACCelerator combines instruction with financial assistance, support services, and paid internships to help adults \u2014 particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed \u2014 train for high-demand occupations. The Chase donation will fund scholarships for 100 program participants.<\/p>\n
\u201cCreating a hands-on learning experience that gives our disadvantaged neighbors an opportunity to \u2018earn while they learn\u2019 is something JPMorgan Chase supports with great enthusiasm,\u201d says Joe Holt, JPMorgan Chase Austin Region chairman. \u201cThis innovative program creates a wider on-ramp to good-paying jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n
ACC\u2019s Career ACCelerator Program initially focuses on addressing Central Texas\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that we expand the pipeline of skilled workers in our region,\u201d says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president and CEO. \u201cBy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Career ACCelerator program is an extension of ACC\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my third semester in the program and it has made a huge difference in my life,\u201d says Michael Brown, Career ACCelerator student. \u201cI\u2019m getting to go to college, when normally I wouldn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
ACC\u2019s Career ACCelerator currently offers three certificate and degree tracks in IT fields:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
For more information about the Career ACCelerator, visit austincc.edu\/careeraccelerator<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" JPMorgan Chase & Co. has donated $250,000 to the Austin Community College Foundation to fund scholarships for adult students entering ACC\u2019s Career ACCelerator Program. Career ACCelerator combines instruction with financial assistance, support services, and paid … Continue reading