BAYTOWN, Texas, Feb. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- An unprecedented demand for middle-skills jobs in the petrochemical industry has veterans flocking to community colleges along the Texas Gulf Coast where companies are rolling out the welcome mat for graduates with jobs starting at $30 an hour.
At Lee College in Baytown, located 25 miles east of downtown Houston, veterans have doubled their ranks in the last three years. As a result, the two-year college has opened a new Veterans Center, staffed by veterans and open daily, to help transition students from the armed forces to civilian life and a good-paying job with guidance on housing, course selection, financial aid and other services.
"Companies in the area, particularly those in petrochemical, want to hire veterans who come through our two-year program," notes Ehab Mustafa, head of the Lee College Veterans Center. "Through their military service, they've been trained to be disciplined, reliable and understand the importance of safety."
In the Gulf Coast region, middle-skills jobs requiring more than a high school education but less than a four-year degree account for roughly two thirds of the estimated 59,000 employees working in the petrochemical industry. High-demand, good-paying jobs also are available in information technology, finance and healthcare. Nationwide, three out of four nurses attended a community college.
"Returning veterans just feel better about talking to someone who understands their needs, that's why we staffed the center with veterans," notes Lee College President Dr. Dennis Brown.
"Community colleges also are developing programs which allow veterans who work full or part time to manage a community college education as a full-time student, thereby ensuring a faster-transition into good-paying careers," Brown adds.
At Lee College, a Weekend College program will be introduced this fall where students can choose from one of four degree programs with courses presented using a hybrid approach combining online instruction with in-person, block-schedule classes on Friday evenings and all-day Saturday. A dedicated completion coach provided by the college will ensure students are on track to complete their courses.
Lee College, which services approximately 6,000 students per year, projects the Weekend College will double its graduation rate within three years. The campus offers more than 50 associate degree and certification programs for a variety of sought-after careers.
To learn more about opportunities for veterans at Lee College, go to www.lee.edu/veterans.
SOURCE Lee College
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