Preparing students to enter the workforce with the necessary tools in order to have successful careers ensures that the workforce in rural Northern Nevada stays strong and continues to grow.
Recently, Great Basin College (GBC) was awarded just under $2.2 million total in federal funding, with $760,000 that will go towards establishing reservation-based health science training and credentialing opportunities for Native American students opportunities that will allow students to attain the MAPE (Medical Assistant/Phlebotomy/EKG) and/or CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) postsecondary certificates.
Additionally, GBC is using the remaining $1.4 million in funding to purchase new, state-of-the-art training systems that will allow students in the Electrical Systems Technology and Instrumentation Systems Technology programs in Elko, Ely and Winnemucca to train in essential applications in electricity and electronics, fluid power, industrial controls, process control and instrumentation — all of which will prepare students to transition to the workforce as high-skill technicians ready to fill in-demand positions.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to further strengthen our electrical and health sciences programs and make a meaningful impact in our community,” said GBC Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Jake Hinton-Rivera.
According to GBC officials, the reservation-based health science educational opportunities will go a long way in making sure that rural Nevada can continue to create advantages for areas that are likely to be short on health-care professionals.
“This federal funding represents a significant step forward in our efforts to provide access to high-quality education and training for Native American students in the health sciences fields. By offering reservation-based training and credentialing opportunities, we can better serve the diverse needs of Native American students and empower them to pursue meaningful careers in the health sciences,” said Hinton-Rivera.
Students from four partner tribes will form an all-Native American college student cohort beginning in the fall semester of 2024 and start a new and in-demand career, further supporting their communities while remaining close to home.
“This funding not only strengthens our commitment to workforce development but also reflects our dedication to supporting the unique educational needs of Native American students. We are honored to play a role in providing pathways to success and economic opportunity for Native American communities,” explained Hinton-Rivera.
For both Electrical Systems Technology and Instrumentation Systems Technology students, the programs will provide extensive training and skill sets that will give them immediate job opportunities due to the high-demand for these specific sets of expertise.
Hinton-Rivera said “By producing a pipeline of qualified professionals, we can support local businesses, attract new investment, and drive innovation in the region.”
According to GBC, the goal for the funding is three-fold:
1) Provide one trainer for every two students;
2) Standardize instruction and equipment across all campuses to meet the needs of industry;
3) Use the trainers for lectures in the classroom and for recruiting at career and college fairs.
“I am very optimistic about the positive impact this investment will have on the College’s ability to meet the growing demand for skilled electrical technicians in the region and will allow for the enhancement of program quality, expansion of capacity, and deepening of industry partnerships,” said Hinton-Rivera.
Preparing the future technicians with hands-on experience through instructional labs that test students’ troubleshooting, critical thinking and reasoning skills, has been designed to be extremely effective and provide a solid theoretical grounding in the subject matter, according to GBC.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), having secured the funding, said “Nevada’s rural communities play an essential role in the growth and development of the Silver State. That is why I’m glad to see the community project funding I secured this year is headed to Winnemucca and Humboldt County. These projects will…prepare local students for jobs in in-demand industries, and support small business growth.”