Clark State president Dr. Jo Alice Blondin said the college is focusing on the health care market because of its projected high demand. The U.S. Department of Labor projects the need for medical assistants will increase 31 percent by 2020, Blondin said.
“Graduates of the program will have an array of employments options,” Blondin said in a statement.
Clark State was chosen by the Plus 50 Encore Completion Program, a national effort to train 10,000 baby boomers in the fields of health care, education and social services. The program is sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges.
The program assists adults ages 50 and older in completing degrees or certificates in high-demand job fields.
Since 2008, the AACC has helped about 24,000 students through its Plus 50 initiative at 18 colleges. According to the AACC, the goal is to assist 10,000 more by 2015.
Clark State offers 12 degrees in health-related fields as well as eight health certificate programs.
Carrie Inmon, an academic adviser at Clark State, said the programs may provide two-year degrees but will also allow for certificates to be attained to get students placed into jobs much faster.
She said the school has a decent population of students older than 50.
“They’ve got a lot to offer,” Inmon said. “We’re excited about getting them trained for jobs they’ll love.”
Clark State serves approximately 5,000 students in its four-county service area, including 1,365 students at its Greene Center in Beavercreek.
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