Tribute to Women in Business program: LSC’s Corporate College offers opportunities for improved skills for local companies

TRIBUTE TO WOMEN IN BUSINESS: Chamber president Reggie Gray

GREENSPOINT — Chamber members heard an overview of the Lone Star College System, and its Corporate College, for established businesses that need consulting services and employee training to improve their competitive position in their markets.

Presenting the information was Suzanne Thaler, Director of the LSC Corporate College. Starting with the overview of the community college system in North Houston, she mentioned the multiple campuses spread through the area, and the student population that now numbers 51,000 degree students and 25,000 nondegree enrollees. Lone Star College started as an offshoot of the Aldine ISD with 500 students.

This rapid and huge growth of the system prompted the need for a $420 million bond issue in May 2008, which is now being deployed to expand facilities to meet this need.

One of the gems of LSC, she said, was the University Center in the Woodlands, where 6 universities collaborate, to offer students 25 Bachelor Degrees, 26 Masters Degrees, and One Doctorate.

Another outstanding program in the LSC system, is the nursing program, which is the largest in the region, and offers a 2 year degree.

In spite of this plethora of facilities, Thaler said that the fact is the need for college grads in the 21st Century workplace is outstripping the availability of candidates.

In September, LSC reorganized their programs, and the Corporate College is meant to offer some solutions to the needs for skilled workers. Specifically, the program aims to offer help in developing employee skills in administration, business training, and implementation managers.

Thaler emphasized that “Education and training is a Lifelong activity,” and LSC offers degrees or certification in areas such as advanced manufacturing, supervision/leadership, languages, and computer technology, among others.

Companies who enroll in the Corporate College program get the following benefits: college credit, cost effective training, access to grants, and qualified teachers/trainers.

Thaler said that other benefits of the program include access to Texas Workforce skills development funds. Corporate College gives a company a point of contact to access the many resources of the Lone Star College System.