Funded by a $13 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Maine is IT! is building new educational and career pathways in information technology at all seven of Maine's community colleges. The programs funded by the grant are designed to support Maine workers eligible for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, un/underemployed adults, and workforce needs in Maine's growing IT sector. They have been built to serve individuals with a range of experience, from those interested in gaining basic IT skills to IT
professionals looking to advance their careers through new industry certifications.
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Tori Cummings, WCCC computer technology student.
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Students reaching their goals with access to expanded IT programs
Maine is IT! has helped numerous Maine community college students launch their careers and reach their professional goals by offering enhanced and expanded IT-related courses, programs, and certifications.
They include
Etoria (Tori) Cummings, who is an active member of the Air National Guard, a veteran of the United States Air Force, and a student enrolled in WCCC's computer technology program. The program has allowed her to combine her passion for photography and interest in computers. "Being able to transfer my prior college credit into the computer technology program was so helpful in making it possible for me to complete my courses sooner," says Tori. She is finishing up her degree by taking an online math course through EMCC to earn the final credits she needs to receive her diploma. She hopes to pursue a four-year degree in the future.
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Zachary Danforth
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Opportunities through Maine is IT! have helped CMCC student Zachary Danforth advance his education and professional development. He completed the CompTIA A+ and Security+ courses offered at CMCC, earning industry recognized certifications. In addition, prior learning credits have enabled him to shorten the time it will take to complete his degree, saving time and money. He recently accepted a position with Goodwill Industries of Northern New England as an IT help desk technician and will complete his degree this coming spring. "Coming to CM has helped me gain experience in computer technology. I have had such great opportunities that I wouldn't have known about otherwise."
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Charity Luster
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Having already earned a certificate in early childhood development,
Charity Luster decided to pursue her interest in IT. It was a smooth transition, she says, one that enabled her to earn her A+ Certification and graduate from NMCC's computer and network technology program in May. She plans to continue her education and find employment in a technology-related field.
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Paul Everett
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Maine is IT! helped KVCC graduate
Paul Everett reach his goals thanks to work and scholarship opportunities. After graduating from Skowhegan Area High School he enrolled as a part-time student in KVCC's applied electronics and computer technology program. A summer scholarship program and the opportunity to become a lab assistant allowed him to attend school full time and take advantage of the certification programs the college offered. Paul now holds certifications in CompTIA A+, PC Pro, Network Pro, Security Pro, and Network Plus. Once he graduated from KVCC in May 2016 the college hired him as one of its information systems support specialists.
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Alan Roberge was recently hired full time by Sage Data Security.
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Our current society is full of threats, and to be more particular, cyber threats. My job title at Sage Data Security is "nDiscover
analyst. I review server, computer and firewall logs that allow me to determine if there are any malicious (malware) or performance based issues with them. Think of me as a digital detective for a company's network. Obtaining my degree, certifications, and job would not have been possible without the supportive instructors, faculty, and close friends at CMCC. They helped provide motivation and purpose to the very complex path into information security.
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YCCC students get a jump start on their IT degree
Thanks to Maine is IT!, YCCC was able to offer several of its IT courses in intensive, five-week modules this summer.
The opportunity to accelerate their coursework will enable new Maine is IT! students to graduate sooner and enter the workforce quickly. The students also benefited from the Summer is IT! academic scholarship. Over 25 Maine is IT! students received $400 per course to help cover the cost of tuition and fees.
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EMCC students get an upfront look at IT careers
Students who recently completed a summer IT fundamentals certification program offered by EMCC and Eastern Maine Development Corporation will be ready to explore internship opportunities this fall.
A significant portion of classroom time was dedicated to presentations by professional partners, including a visit from a former EMCC computer science technology student,
Mike Chasson, currently
the chief technology officer for Sierra Communications in Bangor. Chasson discussed his professional
experience in the IT industry, as well as potential employment opportunities at his company.
Students were also given a tour of the Sierra Communications' IT department, where they could ask in-depth questions about the department's day-to-day operations, along with general questions about the IT industry and what it takes to be successful in this dynamic field.
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SMCC partnership with IT company leads to internships for students
SMCC recently partnered with DSCI, a growing IT company serving 1,500 clients throughout the Northeast, to assist DSCI in meeting its expanding staffing needs.
Through the partnership, SMCC staff work with the company to match SMCC IT students to the company's internship opportunities.
In addition, representatives from DSCI attended the SMCC Career Fair and
Maine is IT! meet-and-greet in mid-April. Both events offered students the opportunity to network and learn more about the company and its hiring plans. To help students prepare for the events, SMCC Student Navigators offered one-on-one résumé help and a Career Fair Check List. Two SMCC IT students were hired as summer interns at DSCI as a result, and the company is looking to hire two more for its fall internship rotation.
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