National Career and Technology Education Month will be held during February and Oklahoma technology centers across the state will take this opportunity to showcase the quality of their students and programs. Wes Watkins Technology Center’s staff and students will mark the occasion with special events and activities held throughout the month.
National Career Tech month provides an opportunity to spread the message about what career and technology education is and how it is designed to prepare students to succeed in the workplace. WWTC offers 25 career majors, a variety of adult evening classes for upgrading skills, business and industry services, free GED preparation courses and college credit through three different cooperating colleges. Technology majors are free to high school juniors and seniors. Adults pay for tuition and books but financial assistance is available for qualified students.
WWTC offers adult continuing education classes in the evenings. These short-term classes usually span a six-week period and meet two nights per week. Courses cover a variety of subjects including Windows, Microsoft Word, Power Point, Introduction to the Internet, Computer Repair, Cake Decoration, Conversational Spanish andWoodworking for Women. These courses are perfect for the individual who wants to increase their knowledge and upgrade their skills. WWTC also offers online computer courses that can be taken from the comfort of your home.
WWTC’s Business and Industry Services (BIS) department participates in diverse activities to support the economic growth of the district’s business and industry. Services include adult and continuing education classes, agricultural business management (ABM), leadership development and safety training for new, existing and expanding businesses. BIS provides a variety of courses, workshops and customized training which enable individuals and businesses to keep pace with changing technologies and allow them to practice effective business techniques. Industry specific training is conducted for area businesses, government and public agencies throughout the district.
If you have never received your high school diploma, WWTC offers free GED preparation courses. Most jobs today require an employee to have a high school diploma or a general education development certificate before they will even consider hiring. WWTC’s Academic Center (AC) provides training materials and software that help individuals increase their basic skills in writing, social studies, science literature and arts and mathematics. Instruction is completely individualized.
WWTC high school and adult students may both earn college credits through cooperative alliance agreements with Seminole State College and OSU-Okmulgee. A cooperative agreement is also available through Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. These cooperative agreements have been approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education making it possible for WWTC credit hours to be applied toward an associate degree in applied science.
WWTC is accredited through the North Central Association (NCA) Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement and is recognized by the Oklahoma Association of Technology Centers as a Gold Star School. WWTC is a 15--time winner of this prestigious award that recognizes only those schools which meet a rigid set of quality standards and demonstrate exemplary programs designed to meet a broad spectrum of community needs.
The center employs approximately 45 full-time employees, serving approximately 325 full time students.
For more information, call Wes Watkins Technology Center at (405) 452-5500.
In district patrons may call toll free at 1-888-884-3834.
February 1, 2009
