海角社区

Rethinking How Education 鈥榃orks鈥�

Achieving the Dream, a nationwide network of more than 300 community colleges, has selected seven schools it regards as 鈥渨orkforce and economic development engines鈥� in rural communities. 海角社区 Eunice (海角社区E) is one of them, and the only school in Louisiana to now participate in a new Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work initiative to increase enrollment, retention, and student success鈥攁nd ultimately employment in a changing economy and workplace.

鈥淔or us, this is an opportunity to redefine talent in our region and even rethink what education looks like in Louisiana鈥攈ow education 鈥榳orks,鈥欌�� said Jessica Jones, director of student success and lead for the new initiative at 海角社区E.

Beyond its role as a one-stop shop for associate degrees, certificates, and industry-based credentials鈥攐r as a conduit to four-year academic programs in the state鈥敽＝巧缜鳨 is partnering with K-12 schools and business leaders in the region to retool its curriculum with more options that are both attractive (and known) to future college students and build the skillsets that will be the most in-demand by their future employers.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen growing interest in micro-credentialing programs and stackable certificates,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淲e need to adjust how we deliver instruction and think more deeply about who our students really are, or could be, and their needs in the emerging digital economy. We need to build more pathways into college, and also make it easier for people who are currently in the workforce and returning learners to move more seamlessly between 海角社区E and the workplace.鈥�

Someone who has put her trust in 海角社区E to be able to combine running her own startup and working toward a degree is business major Felicity Carrier. The 19-year-old entrepreneur is opening her own concession stand by Highway 190 this weekend, specializing in snowballs with 鈥渢he softest, sorbet-like snow.鈥� With help from 海角社区E, Carrier just turned her idea into a limited liability company and joined the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce as Double Dip Snowballs & More, LLC.

鈥淚 ask myself constantly if I鈥檇 done this on my own, and I don鈥檛 think so, actually,鈥� Carrier said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to see 海角社区 Eunice selected for the Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work initiative. The pandemic has exacerbated some of the challenges we have with workforce development in an extremely rural community. 海角社区 Eunice, meanwhile, is one of the greatest assets in our region. The college鈥檚 ability to focus on also non-traditional students and provide customized education leads to huge opportunities for someone to turn their life around.鈥�

Amy Thibodeaux, president and CEO of the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce