Economic Recruitment & Career Readiness Department awarded performance grant

The State of North Carolina has awarded Central Piedmont Community College’s (CPCC) Economic Recruitment & Career Readiness Department a $6,750 performance grant. CPCC grant recipients will receive a voucher for taking the WorkKeys® assessment tests, which determine whether they can receive a North Carolina Career Readiness Certificate (CRC). Created by ACT, the WorkKeys® System is a job skills assessment system that measures “real world” skills employers believe are critical to job success.

Participants use the voucher to take three CRC assessments including: Location Information, Applied Math and Reading for Information. Examinees who score a Level 3 or higher on their assessments will earn a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) – a nationally recognized certificate that provides a credential for validating an individual’s current work skill level and lets a prospective employer know the individual is “job ready.”

“A CRC gives individuals credibility with potential employers, verifying that they possess core employability skills that are required across multiple industries and occupations. As a result, their likelihood of securing employment increases as does their aspirations of personal and professional success,” said Alan Murdock, director of CPCC’s Economic Recruitment & Career Readiness Department.

The state’s grant will help CPCC produce more workers with CRCs, further demonstrating the College’s commitment to being the national leader in workforce development and producing skilled individuals, equipped with the knowledge and practical experience necessary to succeed in today’s labor force. To help accomplish this goal, CPCC is offering “free” assessments, for a limited time, to Mecklenburg County residents.

Individuals who want to register for testing or businesses that would like to learn more about the benefits of hiring employees with a CRC are asked to call 704.330.4662 or email Karla Shields at karla.shields@cpcc.edu.

Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering close to 300 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies.

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This release prepared by Mallory Benz, 704.330.6613. An archive of CPCC news releases is at http://www.cpcc.edu/college-news.