CLEARFIELD – Ask people in the community where the Career and Technology Center (CTC) is and they tend to get a puzzled look on their face. Ask if they know where the “Vo-Tech” is and they know right away.
Unfortunately, as Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” says, “Most jobs that don’t comport with classical education are kind of looked at as vocational consolation prizes.” Today’s vocational schools are not what many people think of when you use the term “Vo-tech.”
It is often thought of as the place where students take trade classes because they have no other options or are not smart enough to succeed in college. Today’s CTCs continue to fight that stigma, when in fact, they are using highly technical education to help students engage their minds by using their hands.
When a student graduates from a CTC, they have not only earned their high school diploma, but also a marketable skill. While being able to go right to work is a goal of many career and tech students, there are also a high number of students who choose to continue their education at post-secondary institutions such as Lock Haven University, Penn State University, DuBois Business College, South Hills, Wyotech, Triangle Tech, Penn College and The University of Northwestern Ohio, just to name a few. Some of the CTC students are studying Bachelor’s degrees in health care while working as medical assistants. Others are pursuing engineering degrees while working as computer technicians or CAD operators. And, many of these students are graduating having already earned college credits thanks to the dual enrollment opportunities offered at the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center.
The CCCTC offers dual enrollment opportunities through a partnership with both Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and Pennsylvania College of Technology. These CCCTC students can get a jump-start on their future by earning college credits while still in high school at drastically reduced prices.
Dual Enrollment courses are taught by certified career and technical staff. Currently, the CCCTC programs that offer dual enrollment include architectural drafting, health occupations and technology, electronics and robotics technology, carpentry and collision repair. Students may then complete their degrees at Penn Highlands, Penn College, or look into transferring those credits to another college or university of their choice.
Students who take advantage of the dual enrollment program can save both money and time. The registration process varies by each participating college and must be completed by the established fall deadline. Students are able to enroll their junior or senior year, depending on the courses they wish to take.
The CCCTC is pursuing additional Dual Enrollment programs for next year. The CCCTC is located at 1620 River Rd. in Clearfield. For more information on all the programs offered at the CCCTC, an open house will occur on Thursday from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. or visit its Web site at www.ccctc.org.