|
|
|
| Academics |
| Admissions |
| Athletics |
| Course and Program Search |
| Disney College Program |
| Distance Education |
| Financial Information |
| Fitness Center |
| Library |
| Online Application |
| Recruitment |
| Student Services |
| Academics |
| Athletics |
| Bookstore |
| Course and Program Search |
| Distance Education |
| Financial Information |
| Fitness Center |
| Get Your CWID |
| Library |
| Student Services |
| Administration |
| Distance Education for Faculty |
| Faculty and Staff Directory |
| Faculty Website |
| Administration |
| Athletics |
| Fitness Center |
| UCC Alumni Association |
| UCC Foundation |
| Bridge Program for HS Students |
| Business and Industry |
| Center for Economic and Workforce Development |
| EIPDC |
| Fitness Center |
| Industry-Business Institute |
| Jobs at UCC |
| LIFE Center for Senior Citizens |
| Overcoming Hatred/Creating Community |
| Retail Skills Center at the Jersey Gardens Mall |
| Student Volunteer Organization |
| Tomasulo Art Gallery |
| Prospective Students | Current Students | Faculty and Staff | Alumni and Friends | Community and Business |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
STATEMENT OF NEED
Union County's Growing Healthcare Industry
Union County College's Building A Pathway for Healthcare Careers responds to the growing workforce needs of the expanding healthcare industry in Union County, New Jersey. According to the NJ Department of Labor, healthcare is currently the County's second leading private sector industry.By 2014, jobs in the healthcare industry are expected to increase by 25%, adding 5,700 jobs locally (N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 2007). | |
| |
Throughout all of New Jersey, the healthcare industry is projected to increase to 575,000 jobs by 2014. Healthcare occupations dominate New Jersey's 25 Occupations with Greatest Employment Growth. As one of the President's high growth/high demand industries, there is a critical need to expand the healthcare workforce (by 2014 the need for home health aides is projected to increase by 50% and need for nurses to increase by 25%.
Critical Need for Nurses and Trained Technicians
The demand for nurses, in particular, far exceeds the available supply. In surveys conducted of our industry partners, the nursing shortage was sited as a critical workforce issue facing the healthcare industry today. Among the larger health industry employers in the county the projected need for net new LPNs and RNs at the County's hospitals exceeds 1,000 over the next ten years, or nearly 170 new nursing healthcare professionals per year.
More ...
A Critical Need for a Qualified, Culturally Competent Labor Pool
In addition to the need for specialized training, the healthcare industry demands entry level personnel with demonstrated basic skills and cultural competencies to respond to the needs of a diverse population. A long-term challenge facing Union County is the high school dropout rate, particularly in Elizabeth and Plainfield at over 30 percent for each city, compared to the statewide average of 15 percent . Rising levels of basic skills deficiencies are pressing needs to be addressed urgently as many jobs in healthcare require post-secondary education as a point of entry.
More ...
Critical Need to Raise Awareness of Healthcare Careers
While some high school students express interest in nursing and health professions, many are unaware of the prerequisite courses that need to be acquired as a foundation for success at the secondary level. Others are ill-prepared academically to succeed in college level training programs, as evidenced by the fact that more than 70% of incoming freshmen (FTE) require remediation in Reading, Writing or Math. For other students, there is a fundamental lack of awareness and understanding of the full continuum of healthcare career opportunities. Language differences impose additional obstacles to career awareness.
Capacity Challenges Facing UCC
In responding to these industry needs UCC faces significant capacity challenges.
To increase the pool of qualified persons interested in pursuing healthcare careers requires a cohort of incoming students who are academically prepared for college level coursework and have sufficient knowledge of the broad spectrum of health career options. Currently, close to 90% of students who enroll at UCC require some form of remedial or developmental/ESL preparation. The added time commitments and the increased cost of developmental courses that often include additional instructional and counseling time deters many students and contributes to a high dropout rate.
More ... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|