'Learn on Demand' Initiative discussed

Oct. 16--Stepping into the future of learning, David C. Dixon, Enhancing Programs in Information Technology Certifications (EPIC) project team leader for Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, spoke to members of the Harlan Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday where he provided information about new programs being offered through EPIC at SKCTC and KCTCS.

"EPIC is a program funded through the Department of Labor...," said Dixon. "I just wanted to provide information to you as you all are looking to recruit new businesses and things into the community. You can keep these programs in mind that we can offer training for these different projects as well as for businesses that may already be here that may be interested in some of our students."

Dixon said EPIC is an expansion to the Learn On Demand Initiative. He said LOD is a KCTCS-wide initiative.

Listing the benefits of LOD, Dixon said as you learn your own way you can study at your own pace, start courses on your schedule, break up full courses into convenient modules and receive prior learning credits. He said you can set your own goals and earn a degree in a high-demand career field, target your skill development training to advance your career and have access to virtual success coaches. He said tuition cost is among the lowest in the country. He added KCTCS is one of the only colleges or universities in the state of Kentucky that did not raise tuition this year.

"Our hope is in the future if someone needs to just take a course in PowerPoint then they will not have to take a whole course in Microsoft Office. If someone needs to take APA Style in English, they can take the APA Style instead of taking the whole English course," said Dixon. "The prior learning credit, this is where you have people who may have worked around computers all their life, or who worked in the medical field and may already know coding like the back of their hand, but they are not actually certified coders. They may go in and take our prior learning test and test out of the class and automatically receive credit."

Dixon said the EPIC slogan is "We are building tomorrow's workforce today." He said the big picture for the program is to increase workers' skill levels and student support, improve student tracking, increase learning technologies and develop five degrees and 11 certifications.

"The good thing about LOD is... Well you have in-state and out-of-state tuition... And say someone from Virginia, someone from Tennessee or even someone from Florida wants to participate -- the tuition is all the same," added Dixon.

Available at SKCTC through LOD is the computer and information technologies program,which is a program that prepares graduates for entry-level positions in the area of network administration, computer support, information security, advanced applications and computer programming. Also available is the medical information technology program, which helps graduates prepare medical records and reports, maintain files, order supplies, transcribe, perform accounting procedures, work with medical insurance and coding and receive patients in a variety of health care settings such as physician practices, hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, mental health facilities, ambulatory care centers, specialty clinics, long-term care and public health agencies.

For more information on these programs and courses available, you may contact Dixon at 606-589-3121 or by email at [email protected]You may also visit their website at kctcs.southeast.edu.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or on Twitter @Nola_hde

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