Career and Technical Education and “Perkins V”

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Phone: (718) 482-7656
jparssinen@lagcc.cuny.edu

Career and technical education programs, commonly known as “CTE”, prepare students for specific career paths that require rigorous technical training that prepares students to enter specialized jobs, such as Nursing, Certified Medical Assistant, or Commercial Photography. This specialized educational model differs from a liberal arts education, which encourages the exploration of several areas of study. CTE programs are popular because they offer students a clear path to a specific career while offering employers a reliable pool of trained job applicants to fill critical roles across an array of industries.

A Brief History of CTE in America

The federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) exists to support CTE programs, students, and the labor market. Perkins V was signed into law by President Trump on July 31, 2018 and represents over 100 years of federal support for CTE programs across the United States. This bipartisan measure reauthorized the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) and provides nearly $1.4 billion annually for career and technical education (CTE) programs.

Perkins V at LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College manages a federally funded “Perkins” grant that prepares New Yorkers to succeed in the world of work. The Perkins grant is a critical resource that provides the resources and training opportunities that our CTE students need to complete their studies and enter a job prepared to meet the challenges of the workplace.

Our Perkins program implements five broad and far-reaching initiatives that support CTE students, faculty, and staff throughout the college, including:

Services for disabled students: LaGuardia’s Office of Accessibility offers tutoring, career development and accessibility services for all CTE students who may have a physical disability, learning disability, chronic health issues, temporary injuries, or other conditions. In FY24, we are also revising several CTE courses to make course content freely accessible to all students through our Open Education Resources initiative on campus.
Professional Development for CTE faculty and staff: Our Center for Teaching and Learning offers customized professional development seminars and workshops for CTE faculty who wish to enhance their teaching abilities or learn new skills for the classroom.
Career and Professional Development: Through our Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) and the Career and Technical Education Assistance (CTEA) Center, we offer enriching professional development activities and internship opportunities for all students, as well as guidance for students interested in entering a non-traditional industry (a field that traditionally has gender imbalances, such as Construction).
Academic Success for degree-seeking students: LaGuardia offers our degree-seeking CTE students robust tutoring services within the field of science, technology, engineering and math, as well as peer mentoring opportunities, career panels, and advisement services for students enrolled in a Health Sciences major.
Academic Success for non-degree students: four CTE certificate programs within our division of Adult and Continuing Education receive Perkins support: EMT/Paramedic program; RN Training for English Language Learners; Certified Medical Administrative Assistant; and Medical Technician programs. These programs offer tutoring and wrap-around support services to ensure that students can remain in and complete their program of study.

Quick facts – CTE at LaGuardia Community College:

Approximately 8,000 students enroll in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) major or certificate program at LaGuardia each year.
LaGuardia currently offers 31 CTE majors leading to an AAS degree and 22 CTE certificate programs.
The three most popular CTE majors currently at the college are Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Computer Science.
The Perkins program collaborates with over 250 employers and industry partners in the NYC area who offer opportunities for our students to experience the world of work, including paid internships, job shadowing, career panels, research opportunities, and experiential learning opportunities.

LaGuardia’s Perkins Local Advisory Council

Per Perkins V requirements, LaGuardia maintains a Local Advisory Council (LAC) composed of higher education leaders and workforce partners. The Council convenes twice a year to review the college’s CTE services and make suggestions that ensure the college’s CTE programs remain strongly aligned with industry standards and expectations. During the 2022-2023 project period, the LAC consisted of 46 members from 17 different companies and organizations. The LAC has made several important recommendations that have strengthened academic and career services both within the college and the greater community. We are grateful to our LAC members for their efforts, ideas and support for our CTE students.