RichmondCC expanding adult ed program ‘Next Steps’ to Scotland County – The Richmond Observer

Next Steps Open House at Richmond Community College

Introduction

Richmond Community College will be hosting a Next Steps Open House at the Scotland County Campus on July 11 from 2 to 3 p.m. to share information about this new program that helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain skills to enter the workforce.

About Next Steps Program

Next Steps is a student-centered, job-focused program to support adults with IDD by providing contextualized academic instruction, workplace readiness skills, and opportunities for enrollment in integrated career training programs.

Expansion of the Program

RichmondCC’s College & Career Readiness department successfully launched the program this past spring semester at the Hamlet Campus. The College is now working to expand this adult education program into Scotland County.

“We are committed to providing education and training to all students with the goal of transitioning into higher education or the workforce,” said Dr. Dale McInnis, president of RichmondCC. “We have seen already that this initiative is changing the lives of many people by giving them meaningful and employable skills.”

Impact and Sustainable Development Goals

Recent data shows 65 percent of students with an intellectual disability who completed a higher education program had a paid job one year after graduation.

The Next Steps Open House will be held in the Morgan Center, room 207, on the Scotland County Campus of RichmondCC. Operations Manager at NCWorks Stephanie Littles will also be available from 3 to 4 p.m. to answer questions about additional resources or services offered through NCWorks.

Next Steps Program and Adult Education

Next Steps is part of the work of RichmondCC’s College & Career Readiness department, which is a federally funded WIOA Title II Adult Education program.

With the expansion of the Next Steps program into Scotland County, the College is looking to hire a part-time Next Steps Adult Basic Education instructor who will be teaching adults with IDD. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree, preferably in education, psychology, behavioral health or related field, plus prior teaching experience with adults with disabilities.

“We are looking for someone who has a passion for teaching, an understanding of the barriers students with unique abilities face and a professional and kind demeanor towards students,” said Dean of Adult Education Nicole Worley.

Job applications can be found on the College’s website, www.richmondcc.edu/contact-us/employment.

To learn more about the Next Steps program or other adult education programs at RichmondCC, contact the College at 910-410-1700.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs:

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Targets:

• Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university.
• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

Indicators:

• Indicator 4.3.1: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months.
• Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.

Analysis:

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The specific targets under those SDGs that can be identified based on the article’s content are Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university; Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value; and Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. The indicators mentioned are Indicator 4.3.1: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months; Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities; and Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.

Table:

Source: richmondobserver.com