Certificate Program in Database Services, Biosciences, and Electro-mechanical Systems with Aerospace Focus

Organization: University of Denver

Grant Round: Workforce Innovation I

Program’s Objectives: DU is training and placing 75 unemployed and underemployed participants into higher paying jobs in the IT, Aerospace and Bioscience industries. The project will identify unemployed and underemployed candidates who have relevant sector experience and/or interest which can be enhanced through the proposed training program. Minority candidates and military veterans will be key targeted populations. There will be three key training areas: (1) Mainframe Administration, an important niche area for Colorado; (2) Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) which are essential needs of the Bioscience industry; and (3) combined Mechanical & Electronics (“Mechatronics”), highly marketable skills in a variety of industries, especially Aerospace, Biosciences and advanced Energy Systems.

Individuals Served: We have started our first class in the Certificate program in database services with 13 students enrolled. Our next class, the Good Lab Practices class will not start until January where we are expecting nearly 70 students. These classes will prepare students on how to perform scientific research in a regulated industrial setting.  Specifically, we will cover the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) quality system regulation requirements that govern the methods used in the facilities and the controls used for the design, manufacture, packaging, labeling, storage, installation, and servicing of all finished products intended for human use.

Success Story: Everyone enrolled in the Mainframe Administartion course participated in the "Master of the Mainframe" competition hosted by IBM. In this nationwide competition all the DU students made it through the first two rounds, with several winning cash prizes. We expect every enrolled student to be hired within six months completion. Over 70% will have jobs upon completion.

Quote: “Our courses are intended to provide an additional skill set. Success in courses such as this will hopefully encourage students to develop further on their own. Our ultimate goal is to see a few of these students go back to school to get their Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related field.”
-- Mike Savoie, Research Engineer - Biofluids Laboratory School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Denver

Collaborators: Denver Workforce Development, South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Sandhill Scientific, and ADA Technologies.