Cascadia Community College will offer compressed certificate programs for working adults and recently unemployed workers thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Workforce Development Council Snohomish County (WDCSC) received the $496,696 grant to benefit working adults and recently unemployed workers pursuing degrees and certificates at community colleges. Cascadia, Edmonds, and Everett community colleges are partnering with WDCSC to provide compressed instruction programs that get students back in the work force as quickly as possible.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to quickly get the skills they need for good jobs in the growing economic sectors of our region,” says Ann Beaulieu, vice president for Student Learning.

The grant is administered by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) and will fund the first two years of a three-year program. Third-year funding is dependent on the availability of congressional funds.

At Cascadia, the Web Foundations program will be compressed first. Normally, it takes students two to three quarters to complete the certificate. However, all of the classes will be offered together next year so students can complete the certificate in just one quarter. The Energy Management Specialist program will be compressed in the second year, making it possible for students to complete the certificate in three or four quarters instead of the usual five or six.

“We want to do everything we can to help students successfully complete their programs, which is often a challenge for working adults. To that end, the grant provides for a support person who will help students enroll in their programs, find the campus services they need, and locate employment opportunities,” says Ron Wheadon, dean for Student Learning.