As graduation approaches, many employers are looking to local colleges and universities for the next generation of young leaders. Over the last decade, career colleges in particular have become a critical resource for connecting employers seeking highly qualified employees with those looking to enter specialized fields of the workforce.
Recently, nearly 200 graduates marked the completion of their career preparation at Bryant & Stratton College in Milwaukee. I joined a distinguished group of guest speakers at the graduation ceremony to attest to the vital role this career-oriented program is playing in the region’s economy.
Career colleges such as Bryant & Stratton College play an integral part in connecting work-ready graduates with quality employment opportunities, which help to ensure a vast majority of these trained graduates remain in Wisconsin and directly benefit our local economy.
The success of career colleges can be attributed to a variety of factors, but two in particular seem to stand out. First, career colleges focus solely on offering degrees for high-growth industries such as health care, business and financial services. Students attending colleges such as Bryant & Stratton College are thus aligned with fields that provide the highest employment potential, and they also receive lifetime job placement assistance to ensure they secure a job in their field upon graduation. Many career colleges also work in tandem with employers directly, tailoring programs based upon employer needs. In the health care field, for example, Bryant & Stratton College has collaborated with major employers such as Wheaton-Franciscan Healthcare, the Medical College of Wisconsin and Take Care Health, a subsidiary of Walgreens. Through advisory board meetings and regular discussions with key executives at these organizations, Bryant & Stratton College develops a dynamic curriculum based upon the key skills desired by major employers for professionals in this field.
The result is a win-win for both graduates and employers. Graduates receive training that will best prepare them to secure employment in their field of interest, and employers have access to high-quality, skilled employees who can make a seamless transition into the workforce.
The success of today’s career colleges is evident both by the high enrollment and job placement statistics. This year, Bryant & Stratton College reached record enrollment numbers, increasing by more than 25 percent over last year. Job placements rates also soared, exceeding 91 percent last year. I commend this year’s graduates for their outstanding achievement and wish them all the best as they pursue their future careers and endeavors.
State Rep. Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee) represents Wisconsin’s 8th District. He serves on the Joint Committee on Finance and chairs the Governor’s Council on Migrant Labor. He also serves on the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District Board and the Milwaukee Area Technical College District Boards. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, where he serves on the board of directors.
