Classroom To Career Program Introduced At Rowan College At Burlington County

Rowan College at Burlington County is partnering with local businesses seeking to hire its students to serve adult students at its Willingboro campus, the college announced Thursday. The campus will offer Classroom to Career certificates in a number of fields that provide the skills that employers feel are most important. Participating companies include Virtua, Wawa, Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital, Ravitz Family ShopRite, Rizzieri Aveda School, CVS Health and Bancroft.

“No one does Classroom to Career better than Rowan College at Burlington County,” Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio said. “This redesigned approach for adult learners will provide a new path for Burlington County residents to get the skills they need for high-paying jobs. Business leaders looking to hire them will have assurance that these graduates have been trained by programs they designed.”

Registration is now open for the fall at rcbc.edu/willingboro. Initial certificates will include:

• Fundamentals of Business Success (beginner and advanced)
• Diversity in the Workplace
• Sales and Marketing
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Leadership

“I grew up in Willingboro and am so proud to bring this cutting edge program, which is the future of higher education, to my hometown,” Rowan College at Burlington County President Paul Drayton said. “Students have our commitment to provide them with relevant courses designed by leading employers, career development programs and opportunities to meet our region’s leading employers who are looking to hire. This initiative is supported by businesses through tuition assistance, flexibility in hours to their employee students, priority hiring for RCBC graduates and personal participation through mentorships and program design.”

As part of the program, classes will be taught in shorter sessions at night, at either the Willingboro campus or a local business.

Professional skills local businesses deem important that will be taught include how to respond to failure and how to make sound decisions.

Local executives will lead “Creating Excellent Organizations” seminars, explaining what made them successful and what they look for in new hires.

There will be more chances for students to learn on the job through internships and field work.

Prior learning assessments are available to award academic credit for skills students have already mastered in the workforce.

“Leading employers, who will hire students, are best positioned to know what skills are needed. These types of partnerships are the future of higher education and I’m so pleased to see the future is now at Rowan College at Burlington County,” Rowan University President Dr. Ali Houshmand said. “Distilling the curriculum to what is most important makes it manageable for working adults seeking to advance their careers and resume their educational journey through RCBC that can take them to Rowan University and from Classroom to Career.”

“This approach turns higher education upside down to ensure the focus is on providing students with employable skills that employers need,” Pars Life CEO Sam Thevanayagam said. “We are thrilled that Rowan College at Burlington County is listening to the business community and collaborating with us to improve educational and career opportunities in Burlington County. “I highly encourage every business leader to become a Classroom to Career Partner. It will benefit your business and provide you an enriching experience.”

For more information, visit rcbc.edu/willingboro.

The attached image was provided by Rowan College at Burlington County: Rowan College at Burlington County student Geraldine Lee, part of the Willingboro Student Leadership Team, discusses the importance of real-life experience for students with businesses leaders, public officials and college administrators at the Classroom to Career initiative announcement at RCBC's Willingboro Campus.