VGCC Leads State in awarding Career Readiness Certificates
Vance-Granville Community College was recently recognized for issuing the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) to more people than any other college in the state between January 2007 and May 2008. Pamela Gobel, director of Career Readiness Certification for the North Carolina Community College System, presented an award of excellence to VGCC on June 20 at a statewide meeting in Raleigh.
Career Readiness Certificates can be used as a complement to diplomas, degrees, and resumes, giving job seekers an advantage in the interview process and giving businesses a way to recognize skilled applicants. The CRC is based upon WorkKeys, a skills assessment tool developed by ACT Inc. Holding a CRC confirms to an employer that a job applicant possesses basic workplace skills: Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics, and Locating Information. Recipients are awarded certificates of Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels, depending on their test scores. The higher the level, the more jobs for which the applicant qualifies. To date, VGCC has issued 230 Bronze Certificates, 274 Silver Certificates and 42 Gold Certificates, for a total of 546.
“I knew we had been very busy, but I was surprised and excited to receive this award,” VGCC Human Resources Development/Career Start coordinator Kyle Burwell said. Burwell attributed the success to communication and collaboration with area businesses and agencies. Among the partners for whom VGCC administered tests were the Vance County Department of Social Services, the Women’s Economic Equity program of Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Kittrell Job Corps and Warren Correctional Institution. Some students in the GED programs at the college’s Warren County and Franklin County campuses also took the tests and were issued CRC’s.
Various businesses and industries in the area, including Oxford manufacturer CertainTeed, also require CRC’s for many new employees. Local school systems, particularly the Vance and Franklin County Schools, have used the CRC to evaluate potential new teacher’s aides. In addition, some employers choose to use only part of the WorkKeys assessments, but not all three components of the CRC.
For more information on how to earn a Career Readiness Certificate, contact Kyle Burwell at (252) 738-3276 or Teresa Ellis at (252) 738-3436. For more information about CRC’s in North Carolina, visit http://www.crcnc.com/.
Above: From left, VGCC Project Skill-UP coordinator Teresa Ellis, Director of Economic and Workforce Development Garland Elliott, Human Resources Development/Career Start coordinator Kyle Burwell and HRD Career Start Case Manager Sharon Essix pose with the banner advertising the CRC. Burwell and Essix hold the college’s award of excellence certificate. College officials plan to situate the banner, presented to the college by the N.C. Community College System, at various locations, including Employment Security Commission offices. (VGCC photo)
