November 12, 2020 – Ephraim, UT – Thanks to funding from the Utah legislature and the tireless efforts of many employees, Snow College was able to offer 10 unique short-term training programs at no cost to individuals whose employment was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the courses filled within days with more than 250 students, some of whom took more than one course.
Of those that enrolled in the trainings, 83% are considered non-traditional students. Many of these students lost jobs, had greatly reduced hours, or had a spouse that lost a job due to the pandemic. Through these courses, they are gaining new skills that will help them improve their employment situation.
One of the new programs, Human Services Practitioner Certification, was created by Snow College professor Katie Justesen. This certification can be earned in as little as two semesters and trains students for a variety of jobs in health and human service agencies. Professor Justesen said, “The majority of the students enrolled are non-traditional students. This program offers an excellent opportunity for the education they have been waiting for, as well as increased employment prospects due to their newfound competency and skills. Perhaps the most exciting thing is that all currently enrolled participants are on target for certificate completion this spring!”
Interim Vice-President for Technical Education Stacee McIff is responsible for overseeing the creation and application of these programs on the Snow College campus. She commented, “Snow College has presented a diverse selection of programs suited for a variety of needs. Most of the programs began as innovative ideas by faculty which were quickly constructed into courses. The implementation time was less than three weeks. The whole operation has shown that Snow College employees are nimble and ready to customize training for workforce needs. It has been rewarding to watch the students gain in-demand workplace skills as well as confidence in their future.”
For more information about Snow College’s Learn and Work programs, please see snow.edu/learnandwork.
For more information about Utah’s Learn and Work initiative, please see inutah.org/learn-work.
Snow College, founded in 1888 by Utah pioneers, is a two-year college with campuses located in Ephraim and Richfield, Utah. Serving more than 5,000 students, the college has been nationally recognized for its student success rates, affordable cost-for-value, involvement opportunities, and exceptional teaching. Learn more about all Snow College has to offer online at https://snow.edu.
