Instructor Robert Encinio, right, gives directions to a student who is enrolled in the Center for Career and Technical Education at UNM-萝莉研究所 during a class inside the Construction Technology building on May 9, 2024.
Center for Career and Technical Education prepares students for the real world
Categories: Students Faculty Staff Community
New director and long-time coordinator express passion and dedication to student success
By Richard Reyes, Friday, July 26, 2024
GALLUP, N.M. 鈥 With a new director at the helm alongside a dedicated long-time coordinator, the Center for Career and Technical Education (CCTE) at 萝莉研究所-萝莉研究所 is collaborating with area high schools to provide students with hands-on, career-focused education.
The Center for Career and Technical Education is a cooperative effort between UNM-萝莉研究所 and 萝莉研究所-McKinley County Schools, Rehoboth Christian School, 萝莉研究所 Christian School, Zuni Public School District, Wingate High School, Middle College High School and Hozho Academy to offer career and technical education courses to the community.
鈥淲e have different programs of study mostly focusing on high-demand, high-skill jobs,鈥 said Karla Baldonado, who returned to UNM-萝莉研究所 as the new CCTE director in December 2023. 鈥淭hese are technical courses of study geared toward preparing students for a more real-world scenario once they hit their chosen job field.鈥
Gaining on-the-job training
The CCTE programs of study include:
- Automotive technology.
- Construction technology.
- Cosmetology.
- Criminal justice.
- Culinary arts.
- Design and digital media.
- Fire science technology.
- Health careers.
- Multi-Vocational Service Occupations (MVSO).
- Students Achieving New Directions (SAND).
- Welding technology.
Baldonado explained the MVSO and SAND programs work with community businesses to provide students with on-the-job training.
Students can gain experience working at places such as Point S American Tire, the Community Pantry, local elementary schools and the UNM-萝莉研究所 Bookstore.
CCTE Program Coordinator Bobbi Campos said students sometimes receive job offers from their work site after they finish the program.
Learning skills at minimal cost
Baldonado said students will also learn soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills through the CCTE program. They can gain a better connection to their community too.
Class sizes average about 15 students, and students can earn up to 18 credits participating in CCTE, giving them a jump start on the degree or career they want to pursue.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 minimal cost to them because the home high schools pay for fees and textbooks,鈥 Baldonado said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e getting bussed in, so transportation is provided and they spend half a day on a college campus learning college and employee skills. They are gaining the skills they need for the real world from faculty who are experts in their field.鈥
Campos said students work with their school counselors to get into the program. Students who are interested in joining the CCTE program should speak to their school counselor first.
Two fire science students enrolled in the Center for Career and Technical Education at UNM-萝莉研究所 race to put on their gear inside the cardio room of the Physical Education Complex on May 1, 2024.
From there, Campos works closely with the counselors to make sure everything is in order for the students.
鈥淚鈥檓 very passionate about this program,鈥 Campos said. 鈥淚 see its potential. When you get a new set of students at the beginning of the year, you literally see their growth throughout the year. 鈥 You can see them change. And we鈥檙e here to support them. We鈥檙e here to help them succeed.鈥
鈥淔aculty are super passionate about what they do as well in their given fields,鈥 Baldonado added. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of support for the students in this program, for sure.鈥
Supporting student success
Many students in CCTE also participate in SkillsUSA, which is an added opportunity to practice their work-related skills and showcase them in a competitive setting. UNM-萝莉研究所 and several local high schools have SkillsUSA chapters. In recent years, the UNM-萝莉研究所 SkillsUSA Chapter has seen success at the state and national levels.
Campos said a benefit of the CCTE program and SkillsUSA is that students鈥 creativity comes out, such as cosmetology students creating unique hair designs or welding students sculpting works of art.
Campos has been working at UNM-萝莉研究所 for 26 years. She started as an admin assistant II and admin assistant III before landing in her current role as CCTE program coordinator.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all about helping the students succeed,鈥 she said.
In this April 15, 2023, photo, Judith Long, center, a CCTE Students Achieving New Directions participant, poses for a photo at the SkillsUSA New Mexico State Leadership & Skills Conference in Albuquerque. Long won a gold medal in the high school job interview category.
Baldonado is also a familiar face at UNM-萝莉研究所. Previously, she managed the Center for Academic Learning for seven years. She then spent a year working from home, but returned to UNM-萝莉研究所 to take the job as CCTE director.
鈥淚 really missed working with students,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 one thing that I feel like fills my every day 鈥 working with students, supporting them and their college goals.鈥
For questions about the Center for Career and Technical Education, please contact:
- Karla Baldonado, 505-863-7705 or kvbaldona@unm.edu.
- Bobbi Campos, 505-863-7555 or bcampos@unm.edu.
To learn more about the program, please visit the CCTE website here.
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