Peters Tours Delta College, Discusses Career & Technical Education
Peters Highlighted Bipartisan Provisions Signed Into Law to Close Skills Gap in Michigan, Expand Career & Technical Education Training
UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) today visited Delta College and highlighted bipartisan legislation recently signed into law to strengthen career and technical education (CTE) counselor awareness and training. Peters had the opportunity to see firsthand how the curriculum like Delta College’s Computer Numerical Control (CNC) program is providing students with the technical skills needed to cater to local employment needs.
“We need a 21st century workforce to keep innovation and technology right here at home, and it was great to see how Delta College partners with local businesses to help close the skills gap in Michigan,” said Senator Peters. “My provisions that were recently signed into law will expand awareness of career and technical educations and postsecondary programs outside the traditional four-year college pathways that will minimize student debt and better meet the needs of local employers.”
“Delta College is committed to putting students on high-demand career paths that will lead to a good job while keeping that talent right here in the Great Lakes-Bay Region,” said Ginny Przygocki, Dean of Career Education/Learning Partnerships, Delta College. “We appreciated the opportunity to show Senator Peters how Delta College’s curriculum benefits both students and businesses in our region.”
According to the Joint Economic Committee, there are more than 44 million middle-skill jobs – or careers that require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year college degree – in the United States. More than a third of the 30 fastest growing occupations fall into this category. In Michigan, 36% of jobs are middle-skill, with the median middle-skill salary is slightly above $44,000 and projected job growth at 7%.
Earlier this year, provisions based on legislation authored by Peters were signed into law as part of a larger career and technical education (CTE) bill. The provisions strengthen training and improve awareness of CTE for school counselors through grants to counselor training programs to assess evidence-based strategies for counseling on CTE pathways.
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