Minnesota West Community and Technical College, in conjunction with the SWWC Service Cooperative and the Future/Pathways to Prosperity United Way grant, is currently offering several pathways of educational learning and hands on exploration to area high school students in high demand career path areas.

“Students who have the opportunity to successfully participate in a college class while still in high school increase their odds of completing a post-secondary certificate or degree. For many students, these opportunities help them determine interests and career paths,” states Kayla Westra, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at Minnesota West. “We are excited about the expansion of our PSEO classes, which currently serve students in on campus, online, and in the high school opportunities.”

Opportunities began in the fall semester 2017 with 54 students from 10 high schools participating in Introduction to Medical Careers class. Those schools included Adrian, Jackson County Central, Lakeview, Luverne, MACCRAY, Montevideo, MCC, SWWC, Windom and Yellow Medicine East. 

The interest and demand areas expanded for spring semester 2018 included:

• The Nursing Assistant class is located on the Granite Falls campus and includes 10 students from 3 high schools (MACCRAY, Montevideo and Yellow Medicine East).
• Introduction to Manufacturing and Engineering, which also includes a job seeking skills component, is based at the Granite Falls campus with 14 students from 4 high schools (Lakeview, Montevideo, Renville County West and Yellow Medicine East).
• Information Technology Concepts, which is taught in a hybrid model, which is both hands on and online instruction, has 9 students from 3 schools (Red Rock Central, Redwood Area and Wabasso).
• Basic Mechanics, based on the Canby campus, includes 4 students from Hendricks Public School.

Additionally, Minnesota West will be offering an Introduction to Education course to area schools starting in the fall 2018. As a pilot this spring, this course is being offered at Worthington High School, with 15 students enrolled.

For further information on the Career Pathway opportunities, please contact Kayla Westra at 507-372-3435.

Minnesota West Community and Technical College offers over 60 technical career and liberal arts majors on five southwest Minnesota campuses in Canby, Granite Falls, Jackson, Pipestone, and Worthington along with learning centers in Marshall and Luverne, MN. The College is a leader in distance learning and Internet delivery. Minnesota West is a member of Minnesota State. The largest provider of higher education in the state of Minnesota. An Equal Opportunity Educator/Employer