Coastal Bend College prides itself on being a pioneer in providing quality education and training in the oil and gas industry for the Eagle Ford Shale region. On Thursday, July 19, 2012, Coastal Bend College will be hosting an Industry Expo at the Beeville campus on 3800 Charco Road from 2-5 p.m. for a full-spectrum demonstration of what the college has to offer employers, students and job seekers.
Prospective students can see first-hand the various programs and technology offered at Coastal Bend College that can put them to work in the Eagle Ford Shale. Program instructors will be available to answer questions and provide demonstrations about the following programs: Airframe and Powerplant, Automotive, Commercial Driving Licensure (CDL), Safety Training, Drafting and Design, Machinist, Oil and Gas Technology, Welding and a wide variety of office support from accounting and office management to computer programming and networking.
“The CBC faculty is excited to showcase the hands-on learning opportunities available to students. Here at CBC, we strongly believe these programs have the ability to change lives,” said Dr. Bruce Exstrom, Dean of Instructional Services for Coastal Bend College.
Students interested in CDL training can get behind the wheel of a cutting-edge simulator at the Industry Expo. The simulator is provided by Excel Driver Services, and is the same simulator used as a teaching aid for students enrolled in the CDL courses at all of the Coastal Bend College campuses. In addition to utilizing a simulator, students in CDL courses also log 1,500 miles of truck driving experience and 3,000 miles of observation time in the truck.
Financial aid, for those who qualify, is available for many of the programs that Coastal Bend College offers. In addition to federal student aid, funds are also available for qualified students under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)—especially for CDL courses.
“Workforce Solutions would like to continue our commitment to CDL driver training by offering an additional $50,000 for CDL training of WIA-eligible participants, to occur between July 1 and September 30, 2012,” said Larry Demieville, Deputy Director for Workforce Solutions. Those interested in obtaining more information about WIA benefits should contact their local Workforce Solutions center.
Glynis Strause, Dean of Institutional Advancement for Coastal Bend College, realizes that with the high demand for these occupations also comes the high demand for proper safety training and awareness.
“We are committed to meeting the safety training and awareness needs of local employers and companies to ensure their employees are well-trained before they get on the job,” Strause said.
Coastal Bend College offers employee safety training courses under its Customized and Continuing Education department. Terry Kirkpatrick, Certified Safety Instructor, teaches SafeLand, first-aid, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliant courses at the CBC campus or even on-site throughout the Eagle Ford Shale region as needed. Employers and local companies that attend the Industry Expo will be able to see what customized training options CBC can provide to fit their needs.
The Coastal Bend College Industry Expo will kick-off at the James R. Dougherty Student Union Building (SUB), and has something to offer for anyone interested in this growing, dynamic field. Industry representatives from PEC Premier, Excel Driver Services and other local companies will be present to showcase the services they offer. For further information about this exciting event, please contact (361) 354-2268 or toll-free at 1-866-722-2838 ext. 2268. Information is also available on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CBCIndustryExpo.
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