Five career programs from College of San Mateo’s Division of Business & Technology were recognized with “Star” status by the California Strong Workforce initiative. Strong Workforce Stars is a new, annual commendation for career education programs, also known as career technical education (CTE), within California’s 114 community colleges. The new ranking recognizes colleges where students show significant gains in factors important for advancing social mobility – a substantial increase in earnings, attainment of a living wage, and/or employment in a job closely matched with the student’s field of study.

“The Business and Technology faculty have been working for years to develop high-quality career education programs, and I am so pleased to see those programs recognized as Strong Workforce Stars. These programs are preparing students to advance in their careers and to play vital roles in our Bay Area economy,” said CSMs Interim Dean of Business and Technology, Heidi Diamond.

The five CSM Strong Workforce Star programs are:

Advanced Manufacturing and Advanced Technology, Advanced Transportation and Renewable Energy, and Energy (Efficiency) and Utilities – Students who participate in these programs boost their earnings by 81%, and 92% attain the regional living wage.

CSM offers one of the only programs in the state that provides hands-on training in largescale electrical power systems. Graduates get jobs with employers in 11 industry sectors, including Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), East Bay Municipal Utilities District (MUD), the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Lawrence Livermore Labs, Lockheed, Lam Research, Siemens, Chevron and Tesla.

Management – CSM earned recognition in the Small Business sector for its Management program, which includes certificates in Human Resources Management, Project Management, and Retail Management. 100% of students who participate in this program get a job in their field of study.

Small Business/Entrepreneurship – CSM earned Strong Workforce Stars recognition in the Small Business sector for its entrepreneurship courses. Students who participate in these courses boost their earnings by 65%, and 94% of students who participate in this program get a job in their field of study.

More than 100 career education programs delivered by 65 institutions in the California Community Colleges system have earned a spot among the ranks of Strong Workforce Stars for their successes in helping students increase their earning power and social mobility.

For more information about the Strong Workforce initiative, visit doingwhatmatters.cccco.edu.