The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) recently awarded Lakeland Community College a $720,000 grant to increase educational and economic opportunities for individuals in underrepresented communities. The funds awarded to Lakeland are a portion of a larger $5 million investment in the region by the USDOL.

The $5 million grant was awarded to a consortium of four community colleges in Northeast Ohio including Lakeland, Lorain County Community College, Cuyahoga County Community College and Stark State College. The consortium will use the funds to improve equity of underrepresented groups, including women, in technology fields.

“We are grateful for the investment made in Northeast Ohio and in our institution. As we look at the labor market, we recognize that the region is changing. It is becoming more competitive, inclusive and technology based,” shared Dr. Laura Barnard executive vice president and provost at Lakeland Community College. “This grant will allow us to implement programming specifically designed to meet the needs of Northeast Ohio employers, while also ensuring all individuals have access to the education and training needed to fill these good-paying, high demand jobs in our area.”

To reach targeted outcomes, Lakeland will implement plans to increase completion and placement rates of underrepresented and female students in information technology and computer science programs. These plans include evidence-based strategies such as: student tracking, career coaching, wraparound services and work-based learning opportunities.

The consortium will also work to accelerate time to completion for high school and college students by expanding dual enrollment in information technology pathways at high schools and the four community colleges in the region.

For more information about academic programs offered at Lakeland, visit lakelandcc.edu.

By: Kerry Ann Jonke, Asst Director Market & Communi