Midlands Tech makes sure graduates are ready to succeed

It’s graduation season, and some college graduates are more ready than others to go to work or continue their education. Many of the well-prepared students will be graduates of Midlands Technical College.

Last year, we graduated the largest class in our history. Of 2,200 graduates, about 80 percent were employed or continuing their education within six months. This year’s class is comparable in size, and even more of them are equipped to go to work almost immediately in in-demand jobs in business, information technology, advanced manufacturing and health care.

In addition to having the academic skills to succeed at another institution or the skills and experience to step into a good-paying job, Midlands Tech students will graduate without the debt that cripples so many graduates. In fact, our students save up to $35,000 a year over more expensive colleges.

Unfortunately, some debt-ridden graduates will also find themselves unemployed or underemployed because of a gap between the degrees they’ve earned and the skills employers seek. But Midlands Tech works directly with employers to tailor courses and training in the specific skills they need.

Our commission members help foster these business partnerships, and they see their mission as building pathways to jobs by matching students with available local opportunities.

We believe that our college affects more lives in our community than any other organization, and our students demonstrate that every day. We have an economic impact of more than $835 million per year, we help create a skilled workforce for Midlands employers, and our graduates expand the state’s economic base through higher incomes.

We are passionate about providing an education with real value in terms of cost, preparation for four-year and advanced degrees and hands-on, first-class-skills training to fill in-demand jobs.

Tens of thousands of Midlands high school students will graduate in the coming weeks. About a third of those going on to college will enroll with us. With 120 degree, diploma and certificate programs and six campuses, we aim to show them that you can get anywhere from here.

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 2:03 PM with the headline "Midlands Tech makes sure graduates are ready to succeed."