Biotechnology is a growing field that many Henry Ford Community College students continue to express an interest in studying.
By GARY J. ERWIN
HFCC Director of Communications
DEARBORN — The minute-by-minute changes in today’s industrial, corporate and healthcare environments require professionals who are flexible, intelligent and ahead of the curve in terms of emerging trends and approaches to solving problems.
Henry Ford Community College responds to these trends with in-depth programs and initiatives, which provide students the ability to immediately step into career opportunities and make an instant impact.
A prime example of HFCC’s ability to assist industry and prepare students for new opportunities is the institution’s Michigan Technical Education Center in Dearborn, which supports the region’s economic de-velopment by providing customized programs and services to enhance current workforce skills and provide certification for job seekers.
This program continues to make significant impact for many organizations, including the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, Detroit Workforce Development Department, Michigan Economic Development Corp., and Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services.
On a more specific level, HFCC’s Biotech-nology Program works to train students to become biotechnology technicians in the region’s molecular biology-based industries and institutions.
According to Charles Jacobs, associate dean of Science at HFCC, the program curriculum is unique because it’s a “direct out-growth of the technical and workplace requirements that biotechnology employers seek,” he said, adding that through this program, “students receive critical training in new technologies and instrumentation, complimented by rigorous science content.
The result is that HFCC graduates highly competent, talented professionals who can step into any company and make an immediate impact.” Last November, the department held Biotechnology Day on campus and welcomed more than 200 guests to hear presentations by noted experts in the field about the exciting opportunities available in the industry.
In addition, HFCC’s Energy Technology-Alter-native Energy program provides students in-depth study in nontraditional types of energy, including renewable/alternative energies, heating and cooling and “green” construction. This program offers students hands-on laboratory work combined with practice theory to meet the needs of industry today. Students take courses in wind, solar and fuel cell technology, geo-thermal systems, renewable energy sources and LEED green building ar-eas among others.
On Feb. 25, the department will host the Fourth Annual Alternative Energy Summit titled “The Green Emerging Economy,” which will feature industry experts, researchers, faculty and students addressing the many new green jobs in alternative energy areas such as photovoltaic, fuel cells, battery technology, back-up power systems, smart home/building energy savings, hydro and biomass among others.
The Nursing Program at Henry Ford Community College grows stronger thanks to new renovations on the East Campus
And recently, HFCC completed a $3 million renovation of the Nursing Program, which included a relocation of the program to the college’s East Campus next door to the Ford UAW Center and M-TEC facility. HFCC’s Nursing Program is the first Michigan associate degree program and one of the first seven such programs in the U.S.
Additionally, the program has won numerous awards and grants for curricula design, innovative teaching strategies, creative curriculum scheduling and collaborative partnerships. The program of study combines 65 credits of general education and nursing courses, using classrooms, laboratories and clinical placements to provide in-depth learning in structured health care environments.
The institution held a dedication ceremony in November, which welcomed hundreds to the new school to tour the labs and facility.
To learn more about how Henry Ford Community College can help students prepare to meet the needs of all industries, call (800) 585-HFCC, e-mail [email protected] go to www.hfcc.edu. People also can go to Facebook (www. hfcc.edu/facebook), Twitter (www.hfcc.edu/twit-ter), Issuu (http://issuu. com/hfcc/) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/ user/henryfordcc).