Workforce Training and Public Service

Division of Workforce Training

The division of Workforce Training provides fast track/short term not for credit training programs at each of the Walters State campus locations. These training programs teach specific skills that individuals need to upgrade for their existing job, or to learn new skills to find a better job. The division coordinates and administers not for credit and non-degree continuing education and vocational courses.

The programs offered are consistent with the mission of Walters State Community College and are designed to meet the needs of individuals, industry, and the business community. Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) and certificates of achievement are used as a means of recognizing and recording the efforts of individuals who enroll and satisfactorily complete the college’s Workforce Training program. CEU’s transfer no credit to degree programs and are separate and distinct from the college’s credit program, which leads to the associate degree programs. CEU’s provide a permanent record of a student’s participation in workforce training programs/activities.  On request, a transcript can be provided. For some programs that have industry recognized credentials, PLA (prior learning assessment) credit may be submitted for approval of the department dean (such as OSHA 30).

The Continuing Education Unit is generally defined as follows: 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education activity under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction. Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) will be computed based on one CEU for each 10 hours of contact. Units will be recorded to one decimal point. A student enrolled in a non-degree activity that meets for a total of 12 hours would earn 1.2 CEU’s.

The value of the CEU is recognized nationally by most organizations. However, many boards, organizations, and groups require different designations and requirements. We strive to understand and accommodate those requirements when they occur.

The objective is to meet and exceed the needs and interests of the communities served by Walters State Community College and we offer a diverse selection of course subjects.

Apprenticeships 

Workforce Training has coordinated apprenticeship programs with the Tennessee Department of Labor.  An apprenticeship is a job that comes with substantial training and the development of transferable skills beneficial to both the employer and the employee. These programs offer businesses the opportunity to strengthen and build their workforce providing a tailored high-quality talent pipeline, and they provide workers with advanced skill sets that meet the specific needs of employers. If you are an employer interested in learning how college-sponsored apprenticeships may benefit your workforce needs or a student who may be interested in one of the occupations below, please e-mail Anita.Ricker@ws.edu or call 423-798-7953. Apprenticeships offered include:

• Certified Nursing Aide
• Commercial Driver License (CDL) – Class A & B
• Cook (Hotel/Motel) Restaurant (Back End)
• Hotel Associate - Front Desk
• Housekeeper Apprenticeship
• Industrial Production Supervisor
• Manager Food Service
• Maintenance Technician
• Mechanical Maintenance & Maintenance Municipal
• Medical Assistant
• Medical Coding
• Supply Chain Manager

Allied Health Training Programs

Youth Programs

Serving students from the surrounding ten-county area, Workforce Training youth programs are committed to providing quality educational opportunities to people of all ages. Our youth programs are designed to offer young people a variety of classes to teach skill development, college preparation, and other special interest areas.

Programs are offered at a variety of dates and times to audiences from 8-years-old to high school students. The major focus of our youth development programs is Talented and Gifted and Kids College – a series of hands-on, discovery-based educational classes offered during the winter and summer months.

There are many more youth program offerings throughout the year, including Underwater Robotics, HAMtastic Radio Technology, and Alive at 25. Updated youth program activities may be viewed at www.ws.edu/youthprograms.

Online Programs

Workforce Training offers hundreds of online non-credit Personal Development and Career Training classes.  These courses are available 24/7–anytime and anywhere.  The online courses may be instructor-led or self-paced, using your home computer or use a computer in your local library.  There are classes to help you find a new career, be better at the job you have, and even fun classes to help you enjoy new adventures.  Personal Development classes are available at ed2go.com/ced.  Career Training classes available at careertraining.ed2go.com/ws.

Other Programs

The Tennessee Legislature, starting January 2001, mandated the Parents, Children and Divorce education seminar. Divorcing couples, with minor children, are required to attend a parent education seminar. The Parents, Children and Divorce seminar is an approved four-hour parent education seminar meeting the requirements of this law. This program is offered at our campus locations in Greeneville, Morristown and Sevierville. Our objective is to meet and exceed the needs and interests of the communities served by Walters State Community College and we offer a diverse selection of course subjects.

The division of workforce training offers many diverse programs including: Motorcycle Rider Education, Beginning Driver’s Education, Permit to Carry a Firearm, Auctioneering, and many more.

We also have hundreds of “on-line classes” to help students get the training they need on their own timetable.

Continuing Education Units

Walters State Community College uses Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) as a means of recognizing and recording the efforts of individuals who enroll and satisfactorily complete most of the college’s non-degree activities. These CEU’s carry no credit for college degree programs and are a separate and distinct operation from the college’s credit program which leads to the associate degree. The recording of the CEU’s will, however, provide a permanent record of an individual’s participation in non-degree activities.

The Continuing Education Unit is generally defined as follows: 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education activity under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction. Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) will be computed on the basis of one CEU for each 10 hours of contact. Units will be recorded to one decimal point. Thus a student enrolled in a non-degree activity which meets for a total of 12 hours would earn 1.2 CEU’s.

The division of Workforce Training will provide students with an official transcript on request. In cases where an enrollee drops an activity after it has started or otherwise fails to complete it, this report will indicate an unsatisfactory (U) grade. If an enrollee chooses to officially withdraw, the request must be made to the dean of Workforce Training. Only in cases of official withdrawal will an enrollee receive a grade of (W) withdrawal. Enrollees satisfactorily completing a CEU course will receive a grade of (S) Satisfactory.

The value of the CEU is recognized nationally by most organizations. However, there are many boards, organizations and groups who require different designations and requirements. We strive to understand and accommodate those requirements when they occur.

Customized Corporate Training Programs

Reflective of a strong commitment to serve the needs of East Tennessee business and industry with relevant training on state-of-the art equipment, technical assistance, and highly qualified employees, Walters State offers customized corporate training programs. The mission is to identify and satisfy unique business and industry needs.

By contracting with companies at convenient times and locations, the division of workforce training – customized corporate training can provide customized training packages for traditional classroom, on-site facilitation, or on-line delivery. Industrial training packages are offered in technical certifications, supervisory and leadership training, lean manufacturing, computer applications, workplace Spanish, conversational German, mechanical engineering technologies, drafting and design, and other topics. Consulting and training is available to our small business constituents in areas of start-up, web development marketing, managing employees, legal issues, and valuing a business. The staff can also provide on-site consulting on issues of software installation, network troubleshooting, database development, programming, software application assistance and others.

Several exam preparation programs are offered such as the CPS, PHR, SPHR, Residential Contractors Limited License, and others.

General Business and Industry Related Courses

General business topics include management, leadership, telephone communication, accounting/bookkeeping, residential and electrical contractors, human resource, financial planning, real estate principles, office administration skills and more.

Certified Professional Secretary (CPS)

Walters State Community College is a testing site in cooperation with the International Association of Administration Professionals (IAAP) and proctors the international exam on the first Saturday of May and the first Saturday of November. The division of Workforce Training offers the CPS Exam Review Courses to assist in preparing a candidate to take the CPS Examination. The exam includes Part 1 - Office Systems & Technology; Part 2 - Office Administration; and Part 3 - Management. Anyone interested in applying to take the CPS Exam should review the eligibility requirements on the IAAP web site at www.iaap-hq.org and submit the exam application by the required application deadline.

Computer Technology

Computer training and certification programs are available for the general public as well as exclusive customized training programs for industries. Popular application software instruction can be delivered in any of the computer training labs located in Morristown, Sevierville, Greeneville, Tazewell, and the Greeneville-Greene County Center for Technology. Participants will receive training in programming environments, operating systems, and specialized technical programs. The instructors can deliver programs designed for certification programs as well as customize instruction to meet the needs of the participants. Some of the application software taught includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, FrontPage and Project. Our programs for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project and FrontPage utilize the Microsoft Official Curriculum and provide certified instructors for assistant students. When Microsoft introduced the Office User Specialist programs, (M.O.S.), WSCC led the State of Tennessee in instructor certification and has continued staying current as new exams are released. The division of workforce training is designated as the IQ Center for administering the MOS exams. Some programs offer training that will lead to computer industry certification programs such as CompTIA’s A+, Networking +, I-Net+, and others.

The division serves as the CISCO Regional Academy Program leaders in the upper East Tennessee area for the CISCO networking program. As the Regional Academy, the division of workforce training serves as the contact for the local high school programs. Currently, local academies have been established in high schools in Greene, Sevier, Hawkins, Grainger and Sullivan counties. The staff can train students as well as train teachers to become CISCO Certified Authorized Instructors. For more information on establishing a local academy for your high school or for more information on becoming a certified instructor, contact the office at 423-318-2740

In addition to training programs for popular accounting software packages such as Quickbooks, our staff members can provide on-site consulting in computer or accounting issues. Staff members participate in the Certified Pro Advisor program with Intuit.

Non-Credit Certificate Programs

The division of workforce training offers non-credit certificate programs for students to prepare for careers in less than six months in the areas of Professional Administrative Assistant, Accounting Clerk, Drafting Specialist, Human Resource Specialist, Networking Technician, Medical Office Technician, Residential Electricity Technician, Certified Nurse Aide Training (C.N.A.), Construction Technology, Bookkeeping Technology, CNC/Setup Operator, Registered Dental Assistant, Banking Clerk, Industrial Maintenance.

Approvable programs are designed to meet the requirements for a WIA and TRA/TAA participant. For more information, call 423-585-2675.

Greeneville Advanced Manufacturing and Welding Training Building

Vocational and Technical Courses

Numerous workforce training programs are available for advanced manufacturing. Our Welding programs have been certified by the American Welding Society and are in high demand.