Richland Community College is offering training to potential new adjunct instructors as part of its new Career and Technical Education Transition to Education Mentor Program. Anyone with a passion for teaching and sharing knowledge with tomorrow’s workforce can receive a stipend while training in this unique program.

According to John Oliver, Director of Workforce Development, “The CTE Mentorship Program is designed to help local experts in their field transition into teaching and training. We want subject matter experts in our district who want to pass on that knowledge to future generations. The program will provide a stipend to individuals that qualify, with more information being offered at some upcoming virtual events.”

Virtual orientations will take place online and are offered on the following dates and times:

  • December 1 from 5:30-6:30pm
  • December 2 from 1pm-2pm
  • December 5 from 9am-10am

Those interested are urged to visit richland.edu/ctementor to sign up.

Oliver added, “I have had a lot of opportunity to talk to these experts and I am consistently amazed by their knowledge, yet I am also fearful of who is going to take the baton from them in order to sustain their industries and businesses. We developed this program to decrease the employment gap in the skilled and technical fields in our area. It really is a unique way to develop your training and teaching skills, while giving back to the community. You have nothing to lose by coming to us, being compensated and trained to teach others. Our future workforce depends on you passing on your knowledge.”

Currently Richland is looking for adjunct instructors in the areas of Nursing, Culinary Arts, IT/Cybersecurity, Automotive Repair, Automotive Collision Repair, Diesel Repair, Welding, Machinist, Maintenance and Millwrights, and Electrical and Instrumental Technicians. A list of qualifications for each of these positions can be found on richland.edu/ctementor.

Those chosen to participate in the program will complete a free online course, “Transition to Education Master Class.” Participants will be paired with a current faculty member in the discipline who will have them apply concepts learned in the course. Mentors will also introduce mentees to program-specific learning outcomes and information.