Galveston College Logistics program information session is July 13
Are you interested in being part of one of the largest employment sectors in Texas? Is a career in logistics and supply chain management right for you? Would you like more information about the new associate degree and certificates in logistics at Galveston College?
Mark your calendar and make plans to attend an information session hosted by Galveston College Logistics Program Director John Rydlund on Tuesday, July 13, at 10 a.m. in the Galveston College Cheney Student Center Seibel Wing, 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston.
Rydland will discuss the job outlook for logistics careers, highlight the program offered at Galveston College and go over important steps to enroll. He also will discuss the dual-credit program offered at Ball High School, share information on important industry certifications and provide insight on career advancement opportunities for those already in the field.
Crucial to the supply chain of any business, logistics involves the timely delivery of freight and goods from one place to another, as well as the unloading and unpacking of this cargo. Whether by land, air or sea, Galveston, Houston and the Gulf Coast region offer an impressive array of logistical and distribution channels to move goods around the country and the world. Houston is also home to the No. 1 foreign trading port in the U.S. by tonnage and the largest container port on the Gulf Coast making this a capital of global trade.
The Galveston College Logistics program covers the foundational areas of logistics and supply chain and develops students’ abilities to think critically and solve real-world problems. Students learn negotiation tactics and receive exposure to supply chain analytics, both desirable skills for employers.
A two-year Associate of Applied Science degree and Basic, Intermediate and Advanced certificates are available.
For more information, contact Rydlund at (409) 944-1318 or [email protected].
All 10 Spring Grads of Quickstart+ HVAC Helper Program Pass EPA Section 608 Universal Exam
Under the instructional leadership of Karen Alsept, all 10 graduates of the Galveston College Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Quickstart+ Helper program passed their EPA Section 608 Universal certification exam at the completion of their training on April 9.
Those receiving their certifications include Andrew Quintana, Alex Neal, Efrain Garza, Yulianna Perez, Ramses Flores Demetrio, Andre Perry, Joshua Marshall, Ronald Cokins, Zachary Folse and Leonardo Morales.
Sharon Pagan, grant manager, said graduate Ronald Cokins was employed by SCR Services, and Flores Demetrio was hired by Miles Cooling and Heating of Pasadena. Efrain Garza is currently completing a five-week paid internship with Waffle House Restaurants, and Andre Perry was employed by R and L Remodeling in La Marque.
Funded with a Foundational Skills for Construction Career Pathways Grant. the Quickstart+ programs are designed to help individuals find entry-level jobs in the fast-growing HVAC and electrical industries.
In the eight-week programs, students will be presented with the basics of a trade, including safety procedures, proper tool usage, regulations, codes and more. They also will receive career counseling and job placement assistance.
Tuition is free for those accepted into the programs. However, students must purchase their own steel-toed boots and personal protective equipment.
An individual applying to a Quickstart program must
• be age 18 or older. (Proof of age is required such as driver’s license or birth
certificate.)
• be a United States citizen or certified to work in the United States. (A Social
Security card or original I-9 documentation is required.)
• meet United States Military Selective Service registration requirements, if male.
(Student must present Registration Acknowledgment Card at the time of enrollment.)
• have a working computer and internet access.
• have steel-toed boots and personal protective equipment (mask or face covering).
Following acceptance into the program, the applicant must meet with the job placement navigator and bring required documents.
For more information, please visit https://gc.edu/continuing-education/quickstartplus/ and contact Sharon Pagan at [email protected].
Above: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) instructor Karen Alsept stands proudly with her 10 Quickstart+ HVAC Helper students who all passed their EPA Section 608 Universal certification exam at the completion of their training on April 9. Pictured left to right are Andrew Quintana, instructor Karen Alsept, Alex Neal, Efrain Garza, Yulianna Perez, Ramses Flores Demetrio, Andre Perry, Joshua Marshall, Ronald Cokins, Zachary Folse and Leonardo Morales.
Galveston College board moves forward with PBK Architects for Nursing and Health Sciences Education building project
The Galveston Community College District Board of Regents, in a special session on April 7, authorized Dr. Myles Shelton, president, to negotiate a contract with PBK Architects, Inc., of Houston for architectural and engineering services for the construction of a new nursing and health sciences education building on the main campus.
The college received 13 responses to its request for qualifications for architectural and engineering services. Of those 13, the five firms scoring the highest were invited to make presentations for review.
In addition, the board approved proposals for landscape and architecture planning and design services for the main campus and for the Charlie Thomas Family Applied Technology Center from Elizabeth Austin Associates of The Woodlands. The proposals will take the projects from schematic design and construction documentation to oversight of installation.
Dr. Shelton said campus landscaping at both locations sustained considerable damage as a result of the February winter storm, and college staff will not know the exact extent of the damage for another month or so until the plants break their winter dormancy and begin to grow – or in some cases, not grow.
The board also decided to meet on April 27 at 4:30 p.m. to review and discuss proposals for bond financial adviser services.
Above: Galveston College Regent Carroll Sunseri looks at a virtual rendering of a nursing and health sciences building at another institution at the April 7 special board meeting.
Galveston College Diagnostic Medical Sonography program receives CAAHEP accreditation
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), at its March 19 meeting, awarded programmatic accreditation to Galveston College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. The initial five-year accreditation followed a rigorous review process, including a self-study and virtual site visit to the Galveston campus.
“Becoming an accredited program is a wonderful achievement for the college and our students,” said Program Director Jaime Retiz. “This gives us recognition as a program maintaining national standards and quality and allows our students to be eligible for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) board registries. This also gives our graduates an opportunity to become a registered sonographer by graduation and to be a hirable candidate when they begin their job search.”
The Galveston College Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is also an American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) recognized educational program. This recognition allows graduates to be ARRT – Sonography registry eligible upon completion of the program.
A diagnostic medical sonographer uses imaging equipment and soundwaves to form images of parts of the body, known as ultrasounds. They are trained to acquire and analyze these sonographic images, which are used to help doctors diagnose and treat many medical conditions.
Galveston College began the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program in spring 2019 in response to the needs of the local healthcare industry for highly skilled sonographers. Four students from the first graduating class in December 2020 have completed the registry exam.
“There is a high demand for certified sonographers in the Galveston and Houston areas,” said Dr. Cissy Matthews, vice president for instruction. “We are very proud that our Diagnostic Medical Sonography program has achieved CAAHEP accreditation. This demonstrates the quality of our program and the dedication of our faculty to ensure the program prepares students for success as diagnostic medical sonographers.”
Students in the Galveston College Diagnostic Medical Sonography program benefit from a blend of rigorous classroom instruction and hands-on training—a combination that enables them to strengthen their newfound knowledge and skills.
The Galveston College program accepts eight students a year into the program. Accreditation will enable the college to grow the program with the addition of new clinical sites.
The application period is open now and ends May 31. For application information, visit the Galveston College website at gc.edu, call (409) 944-1490 or email Retiz at [email protected].
Prerequisite courses for the program include Anatomy and Physiology I, College Algebra, College Physics and Composition I.
Above: Jaime Retiz, Program Director, Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Student Success Seminar to focus on note-taking and study skills
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Galveston College mourns passing of Charlie Thomas
Galveston College is deeply saddened by Friday’s passing of longtime business leader Charlie Thomas, 89, of Houston, who at one time owned multiple Texas car dealerships as well as the Houston Rockets basketball team.
Through the generosity of Mr. Thomas and his family, Galveston College opened the Charlie Thomas Family Applied Technology Center in 2013 at the dealership’s former Galveston location on Broadway Street as a commitment to provide multiple workforce and technology programs for residents to be trained to enter lucrative careers in the Galveston County area.
Since that time, the programs have produced hundreds of graduates who have joined the workforce or become their own service industry business owners and providers.
“Mr. Thomas was an outstanding business and community leader, Texan and friend of Galveston College,” said Dr. Myles Shelton, Galveston College president. “He left a tremendous legacy in Galveston and will continue to touch many lives through the students who receive technical education and training at the Charlie Thomas Family Applied Technology Center. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
For more information about the Galveston College Charlie Thomas Family Applied Technology Center, please contact Dr. Van Patterson at [email protected] or (409) 944-1205.
Mr. Thomas’ obituary may be found in the Wednesday, Jan. 20, issue of the Houston Chronicle. Funeral service information may be found here.
Photo: Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors
Galveston College Receives $750,000 in Texas Reskilling Support Fund Initiative
Galveston College Receives $750,000 in Texas Reskilling Support Fund Initiative
“These strategic investments, supported by Governor Abbott and our Texas legislative leadership, will play an important role in supporting Texas students and driving the recovery of the Texas economy. We can help students who have previously stopped out of higher education without completing a postsecondary credential as well as help displaced Texas workers who need to reskill and upskill and complete a higher education credential so they can rejoin the workforce and get back on their feet,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller. “Our Texas institutions are making significant commitments to create programs that keep more students on track to enter the workforce with the high-value credentials and education that tomorrow’s economy will demand.”
Seven Galveston College Quickstart+ HVAC-R students pass Universal Section 608 certification exam
Seven Galveston College Quickstart+ students recently passed the Universal Section 608 Certification exam following an intensive eight-week training program in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R).
Section 608 of the Clean Air Act requires that all persons who maintain, service, repair or dispose of appliances that contain regulated substances be certified in proper refrigerant handling techniques.
Instructor Karen Alsept said this is the largest Quickstart+ student group to pass
the Universal Section 608 exam in the three-year history of the training program.
“Our instructor, Karen Alsept, welcomed 13 students into the classroom Sept. 21, where
they received a mixture of online and face-to-face instruction,” said Sharon Pagan,
grant navigator for Quickstart+.
“Classes met Mondays through Thursdays for five hours each night, and students completed classes in Shop Practices and Tools, Basic Electrical for HVAC, Refrigeration Principles, OSHA 10 Construction and Professional Behaviors.”
Over the course of instruction, students had the opportunity to complete an eight-module National Center for Construction and Education Research (NCCER) core curriculum, as well as the 10-hour Construction Safety and Health Certification from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The Quickstart+ program also provided Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program study guides to help students become knowledgeable about Section 608 environmental issues with regard to the proper handling of refrigerants.
Seven of the 13 HVAC-R students paid to take the national exam through the ESCO Institute in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. To earn Universal certification, HVAC-R students had to demonstrate proficiency in the NCCER Core Curriculum, Type I, Type II and Type III certification requirements.
Those earning certifications included John Bertolino, Michael Busby, Oscar Franco, Justin Hulsey, Kendall Merriweather, Randy Ramirez and Rodrigo Sanchez.
Funded with a Foundational Skills for Construction Career Pathways Grant, the Quickstart+ programs at Galveston College are designed to help individuals find entry-level jobs in the fast-growing HVAC and electrical industries.
In the eight-week programs, students are presented with the basics of a trade, including safety procedures, proper tool usage, regulations, codes and more. They also receive career counseling and job placement assistance.
Tuition is free for those accepted into the programs. However, students purchase their own steel-toed boots and personal protective equipment.
For more information, please contact Sharon Pagan at [email protected]. The next classes begin in February.
New Quickstart+ programs set to launch this fall
Galveston College has received a grant from the Texas Workforce Commission to offer new Quickstart+ training programs in Electrical Technology and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). The first cohort of the Electrical Helper program will begin Sept. 21.
Career Navigator Sharon Levy Pagan will be moving to the Continuing Education department to coordinate and serve as job placement navigator for the program. Her office will remain at the Charlie Thomas Family Applied Technology Center.
Funded with a Foundational Skills for Construction Career Pathways Grant. the Quickstart+ programs are designed to help individuals find entry-level jobs in the fast-growing HVAC and electrical industries.
In the eight-week programs, students will be presented with the basics of a trade, including safety procedures, proper tool usage, regulations, codes and more. They also will receive career counseling and job placement assistance.
Tuition is free for those accepted into the programs. However, students must purchase their own steel-toed boots and personal protective equipment.
An individual applying to a Quickstart program must
• be age 18 or older. (Proof of age is required such as driver’s license or birth
certificate.)
• be a United States citizen or certified to work in the United States. (A Social
Security card or original I-9 documentation is required.)
• meet United States Military Selective Service registration requirements, if male.
(Student must present Registration Acknowledgment Card at the time of enrollment.)
• have a working computer and internet access.
• have steel-toed boots and personal protective equipment (mask or face covering).
Following acceptance into the program, the applicant must meet with the job placement navigator and bring required documents.
For more information, please visit https://gc.edu/continuing-education/quickstartplus/
and contact Job Placement Navigator Sharon Pagan at (409) 944-1410 or [email protected].
Workforce Programs Career Fair is May 30
To date, 22 employers from the region are scheduled to participate in the event, which focuses on career opportunities for students in career-technical programs. Employers include the following:
- Action Personnel
- UTMB Health
- Moody Gardens
- The San Luis Hotel, Spa and Conference Center
- The Meridian Retirement Community
- Orchard Park at Victory Lakes
- Bayou Pines Care Center
- Port of Galveston
- TRC
- PeopleReady
- Turner Industries
- Broome Welding
- CBRE
- Hotel Galvez and Spa
- Advanced Refrigeration
- Lulu’s
- Industrial Material Corporation
- South Coast Fabrication
- Daikin
- Galveston Electrical-Local Union 527
The career fair allows candidates and employers to communicate on a personal and face-to-face basis. It also provides opportunities for students to connect with potential employers and discover career information regarding summer or permanent, full-time positions.
Participants will have opportunities to complete applications for employment or admissions. Employers also welcome candidates with resumes.
Sharon Levy Pagan, Galveston College career navigator at the Applied Technology Center, is available to assist students in creating resumes by appointment.
For more information about the career fair or to schedule a resume review appointment,
call her at (409) 944-1410 or email [email protected].