Business & Industry at Seward County Community College provides a wide range of continuing education services to the community — but the core of its mission is reflected in the name.
“We really focus on serving companies in the area, whatever they might need, in both business education, and industry training,” said B&I Director Norma Jean Dodge.
One key area of service?
Safety and certifications.
“That’s really an ongoing need throughout the business and industry community,” said Dodge. “It’s not just the new employees who need orientation, it’s the updates and recertifications, and the changes in the law. Companies really have to stay on top of so many diverse things, and we see it as a place where we can meet those needs.”
Among B&I’s regular offerings are ETC SafeLand USA Orientation, forklift training, medic and first aid training and hydrogen sulfide protocol training.
“These are regular classes we know people need,” said Dodge. “A lot of workers going into the energy field need some of these special certifications. In fact, they are critical.”
In addition to one-day training intensives taught on the SCCC campus, B&I often travels to business partners to provide workshops and training.
“One of our instructors goes out to Ulysses to provide monthly safety training for a company,” said Dodge. “It helps them do more than check that box that says they complied, it gives them high-value, ongoing training for their employees.”
Dodge noted that “ongoing” can mean different things in specific industries.
“Forklift training has a certification that has to be renewed every few years; CPR and first aid is a two-year window. OSHA 10 is another one that many employees need to update,” she said. “Other areas, you earn a lifetime card, and never have to take training in that specific topic again.”
If employers are interested in other specific courses, “we’re happy to research and provide help,” Dodge said. “It’s not something we see as extra, it’s what we are here to do, supporting business and industry in the region.”
Upcoming classes scheduled by SCCC’s B&I department include:
June 13 – ETC SafeLand USA Orientation – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
August 1 – H2S – 8 a.m. to Noon
October 3 – Forklift Training – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
November 1 – H2S – 1 to 5 p.m.
November 7 – Medic First Aid – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 12 – ETC SafeLand USA Orientation – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 620-417-1170, visit sccc.edu, or check out social media: on Facebook, “Business & Industry at SCCC” and tweeting @scccbusinessandindustry.
Categories: Business & Industry, Industrial Technology Division
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