SCHENECTADY — SUNY Schenectady County Community College has officially rolled out a pair of mobile-learning units that will provide those in the advanced manufacturing and health care industries an opportunity to advance their skill set without having to travel to campus.
The college is dedicated towards expanding its reach within the community and fostering partnerships with local and regional businesses to develop a strong workforce. These two 44-foot long mobile training labs are the latest step in achieving this goal.
The units, consisting of an advanced manufacturing lab and health care lab, were introduced at a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Monday. This launch follows over a year of dedicated effort after receiving a $1 million SUNY workforce development grant. Thanks to contributions from National Grid, the advanced manufacturing unit was constructed with a $25,000 investment. This marks the first partnership between the college and a local industry.
“Our Mobile Training Labs are breaking new ground in the way we work with the business and industry sector. By bringing our expert instructors and advanced equipment on-site, we are removing any obstacles that may have prevented employees from attending off-site training programs,” said Steady Moono, the college’s president.
These mobile labs are 8 1/2 feet wide, 13 feet tall and have 6-foot slides. They are equipped to hold 13 individuals, including 12 students and one instructor. The health care lab features specialized equipment and training modules for phlebotomy, EKG, safety and ergonomics, anatomy and physiology, and medical coding and billing. The advanced manufacturing lab is fitted with custom tools and equipment such as a motion AI collaborative robot, a 3D printer, SolidWorks programming and interactive learning panels for electrical wiring. It can also provide workshops on customer service, supply chain and logistics, cyber security awareness and leadership training.
U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, made an appearance at the ceremony and announced that the college is receiving a $500,000 grant to build a 6,000-square-foot depot to house the mobile units on campus. He commended the college for its initiative in creating these mobile labs.
“I applaud the college for its vision and execution in becoming even more responsive to the needs of the community and the greater Capital Region. These Workforce Development Mobile Training Labs will provide individuals with cutting-edge training opportunities and help retrain employees in the manufacturing and healthcare fields,” said Tonko.
The college has taken various initiatives in recent years to boost its presence and appeal. These include partnerships with local school districts and expansion of college in the high school programs, which enables students to work towards an associate degree while still in high school. These efforts have resulted in a 6% increase in enrollment this fall semester, with a 15% rise in first-time student registrations.
Employers and educators who are interested in learning more about the mobile learning units can reach out to Sarah Wilson-Sparrow, the college’s vice president of workforce development and community education, at wilsons@sunysccc.edu.
