Facts and Statistics
- The Pathways program has been creative in developing partnerships with area businesses and organizations. Current partnerships include: the Mecklenburg County Division of Social Services, Johnston YMCA, Christ Episcopal Church, Affiliated Computer Services, Charlotte Mecklenburg Sheriff’s Work Release Center, Mecklenburg County Drug Court Program, Northeast Medical Center, CEO, Superior Mechanical, Origin Inc., First Contact, Sprint PCS, Royal Sun Insurance, MedDent, ProStaff, MedClaim, Carolina’s Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital, JobLink Career Centers, Freddie Mac and the Charlotte Enterprise Community.
- Business contributions include: providing employment opportunities, job-site training, representation on the Pathways To Employment Advisory Committee, participate in our career fair and financial support
- The Pathways program has been and continues to be creative in taking a training model and turning it into an employment reality. Pathways training programs include but are not limited to the following: Medical Reimbursement Specialist; Medical Office Administrative Procedures; Hospital Unit Secretary; Data Entry Specialist, Vinyl Siding Installation Tech, Heating and Air Conditioning; Customer Service Representative, Welding Tech, and Office Information Systems Specialist.
- The Pathways training model can be utilized to meet the training needs of numerous entry level occupations.
- The Pathways program utilizes the Learning Community Model and applies integrated curricula.
- The stringent requirements of 80% attendance and grades of 80% and higher to graduate help establish very high expectations of our students. In the end, our graduates are well-trained in their courses of study. Turning out qualified candidates to the work force establishes a high reputation with our business partners who then anticipate the next group of graduates.
- The average program training cost, which includes books and tuition, is approximately $1,200 per student.
- 80% program participant retention rate.
- Has provided over 67,000 contact hours of basic skills instruction.
- Basic skills improvement by grade level (TABE assessment): +1.88 in reading, +3.47 in math and +3.2 in language.
- CPCC’s Pathways program has provided services for over 646 low income clients.
- There was a 76% job placement rate for program graduates.
- 25% of Pathways graduates have continued their pursuit of higher education by enrolling in classes at CPCC.
- The Pathways program has been enhanced by our new partnership with Freddie Mac. This agreement will allow students who graduate from the Pathways program to access mortgage monies specifically designed for them. Education, employment, and home ownership can truly lead to self-sufficiency.
- The partnership with the Department of Social Services has resulted in the funding and establishment of a twenty station computer lab at the Central Campus for Pathways to Employment participants.
- This program trains individuals with multiple barriers to employment in jobs that have real futures.
- The Pathways to Employment program with its career path design encourages lifelong learning.
- The program allows students with limited basic skills (those lacking a high school diploma or GED) to access CPCC’s skills training courses.
- Pathways’ office technology and basic skill instructors have incorporated web based “e-project” technology to integrate, manage and interact with the students in the classroom. The “e-project” curriculum simulates the office setting in the classroom to familiarize students with the job requirements.
- The program design meets the needs of Welfare to Work clients and other clientele to be served under the Work Force Development Act of 1998.
- 75% of Pathways graduates were no longer receiving TANF.
- CPCC’s Pathways to Employment program has been presented as a model at numerous state and national conferences: Workplace Peer Conference in Oklahoma City, Network’s Welfare to Work to Self-Sufficiency National Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Opportunities 2002-From Partnership To Performance in Albany, Oregon and the National Institute for Government Innovation’s Welfare Reform, Job Training and Beyond Conference in Arlington, Virginia.
- The Pathways To Employment program has received numerous local, state and national awards: Central Piedmont Community College’s Certificate of Excellence and Innovator of the Year awards, Bellwether Award Finalist, League for Innovation in the Community College Innovation of the Year Award and the program was recently featured in the National Institute For Staff And Organizational Development (NISOD) publication Innovation Abstracts.
- Each year the CPCC’s Pathways to Employment Program hosts local, state, national and international visitors. This year we hosted educators from New York, Ohio, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC., New Jersey, North Carolina and the State Department’s International Visitors Program - Southeast Asian delegation.
- In January of 2002, President George W. Bush came to Charlotte and met with the Pathways to Employment Medical Office Administrative Procedures students. He said, “The innovation that takes place in this community is positive and strong, and that’s why we are here, to herald a program that actually works”. Bush stated, “Sometimes they sound good on paper, they read good, but the results are short. …and that’s not the case in Mecklenburg County when it comes to putting people to work”. President Bush remarked after the meeting with the students, “Today I have the honor… of hearing from the people involved, the human stories, the real-life stories of people who have overcome incredible obstacles”. Meeting President Bush was truly a memorable experience for the students.
