RDC News:

ESPANOLA – Friday, April 4, Accelerate program students from the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) and five other colleges and universities around northern New Mexico will learn and practice leadership skills in a workshop at Northern New Mexico College.

The event, Learning the FUNdamentals of Leadership, aims to increase career readiness and assist in completing certificates and 2-year technical degrees for non-traditional students. It is the final event in a series of training classes and workshops held by Accelerate, a program of the Regional Development Corporation (RDC), during the 2013-2014 academic year.

During the workshop, students will engage in physical exercises providing leadership insight. Lunch and door prizes will be offered, and students completing the workshop will earn a stipend and a certificate of completion.

Accelerate’s career technical advisors serve as coaches and mentors to assist a group of 20 students to navigate through any issue that might affect their school work. They also help students find internship opportunities and facilitate training to prepare students for the workforce.

“Experience-based learning uses a holistic approach that addresses the cognitive, emotional and physical aspects of the participants,” said Facilitator David Markwardt, director of Teamwork in Action at Santa Fe Community College. “It is based on the theory that the most effective way to learn is by doing.”

The five other institutes participating in the event are Santa Fe Community College, Luna Community College, New Mexico Highlands University, Northern New Mexico College and the University of New Mexico-Taos.

About Accelerate: Northern New Mexico Technical Training and Job Placement Program

Six northern New Mexico colleges, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and the New Mexico Regional Development Corporation (RDC) are collaborating to graduate more technical career students, place them in jobs, and better prepare them for career and educational advancement.   

The Technical Training and Job Placement program, known as Accelerate, focuses on transitional workers with retraining needs and non-traditional students enrolled in technical certificate and 2-year degree programs. Accelerate offers an innovative approach to increase technical degree completion, professional readiness, and job placement.

Accelerate is sponsored by the US Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management and by contributions from colleges, the RDC, and regional employers. Participating colleges include Luna Community College, New Mexico Highlands University, Northern New Mexico College, Santa Fe Community College, the University of New Mexico – Los Alamos, and the University of New Mexico – Taos.