Issue Date: 11/16/09
Job training program slowly phasing out
By Amber Varnes
Palomar College's vocation training program is being phased out despite the need in a shaky economy, school officials said recently.
The school's Regional Occupational Program (ROP) allows students and members of the community to obtain tuition-free classes in the area of their choice. But Palomar's ROP district will be phased out by 2011.
Although there are about 23 ROP districts in the North County area, Palomar will no longer be one of them. Associate Professor Jackie Martin-Klement said this is mainly due to the state wanting to put more focus and attention on high school students.
"The funding and foundation of ROP was first geared toward high school students and because of our economic crisis, is choosing to return to the high school level and will no longer exist at the community college level," Martin-Klement said.
According to Palomar's ROP homepage, it is a tax-supported statewide public education vocational training program. It serves all California residents 16 years of age and older.
"This program is geared toward helping students transition into the career field of their choice," said Ponnice Black, Palomar College's ROP Office Specialist.
Palomar's ROP Director Paul Kelly said that students have the option of taking classes for college credit, also tuition-free and will appear on a Palomar transcript. Credits may be applied toward numerous degree and certificate programs at Palomar. All ROP courses that are available for college credit conform to the school's curriculum standards.
While there are only a few semesters left to Palomar College's ROP, students are encouraged to continue to utilize its services and gain a free education for as long as possible.
Black, who takes care of enrollment, registration and scheduling for ROP, said that Palomar's ROP district offers six areas of study that students can takes classes from: auto body repair/finishing, computer applications, computerized graphic design, cosmetology, culinary arts and optical.
"Due to our budget, we had to cut down on the number and variety of courses we offer quite a bit. Hopefully we can change that," Black said.
The classes that are offered through Palomar's ROP are essentially the same in terms of traditional lectures and labs. However, an important part of ROP training is the focus on practical hands-on experience.
About 50 percent of ROP students are traditional-aged college students and the other 50 percent are students returning from the workforce.
Martin-Klement said that the instructors in ROP are known for the amount of assistance they give their students. "Many students have said that without ROP, they would be afraid to come back to college," she said.
Microsoft Office Suite and Related Programs is the most demanding class Martin-Klement teaches. It prepares students to be computer-literate for their personal and academic life.
There are many classes that are offered that assist students to prepare them for the competitive workforce. In our tough economic times, don't miss the opportunity to take a job search class. Martin-Klement, who teaches the job search class said she helps with resume and cover letter writing, business cards and interviewing.
Spring 2010 ROP classes are posted online and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 10. There only requirements are the student must at least 16 years of age and a California resident. Register online at their Web site.
The school's Regional Occupational Program (ROP) allows students and members of the community to obtain tuition-free classes in the area of their choice. But Palomar's ROP district will be phased out by 2011.
Although there are about 23 ROP districts in the North County area, Palomar will no longer be one of them. Associate Professor Jackie Martin-Klement said this is mainly due to the state wanting to put more focus and attention on high school students.
"The funding and foundation of ROP was first geared toward high school students and because of our economic crisis, is choosing to return to the high school level and will no longer exist at the community college level," Martin-Klement said.
According to Palomar's ROP homepage, it is a tax-supported statewide public education vocational training program. It serves all California residents 16 years of age and older.
"This program is geared toward helping students transition into the career field of their choice," said Ponnice Black, Palomar College's ROP Office Specialist.
Palomar's ROP Director Paul Kelly said that students have the option of taking classes for college credit, also tuition-free and will appear on a Palomar transcript. Credits may be applied toward numerous degree and certificate programs at Palomar. All ROP courses that are available for college credit conform to the school's curriculum standards.
While there are only a few semesters left to Palomar College's ROP, students are encouraged to continue to utilize its services and gain a free education for as long as possible.
Black, who takes care of enrollment, registration and scheduling for ROP, said that Palomar's ROP district offers six areas of study that students can takes classes from: auto body repair/finishing, computer applications, computerized graphic design, cosmetology, culinary arts and optical.
"Due to our budget, we had to cut down on the number and variety of courses we offer quite a bit. Hopefully we can change that," Black said.
The classes that are offered through Palomar's ROP are essentially the same in terms of traditional lectures and labs. However, an important part of ROP training is the focus on practical hands-on experience.
About 50 percent of ROP students are traditional-aged college students and the other 50 percent are students returning from the workforce.
Martin-Klement said that the instructors in ROP are known for the amount of assistance they give their students. "Many students have said that without ROP, they would be afraid to come back to college," she said.
Microsoft Office Suite and Related Programs is the most demanding class Martin-Klement teaches. It prepares students to be computer-literate for their personal and academic life.
There are many classes that are offered that assist students to prepare them for the competitive workforce. In our tough economic times, don't miss the opportunity to take a job search class. Martin-Klement, who teaches the job search class said she helps with resume and cover letter writing, business cards and interviewing.
Spring 2010 ROP classes are posted online and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 10. There only requirements are the student must at least 16 years of age and a California resident. Register online at their Web site.
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College essay help
posted 12/21/09 @ 1:21 PM PST
I think that job training program is very important for students and shouldn1t be phasing out.
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