New Program Helps Workers Pursue College Degrees

At a time when employee training is critical to maintaining productivity and keeping businesses competitive, a local manufacturer, a technical college and a public university have joined forces to help employees earn a college degree.

The “Pathways to Higher Ed” program is a collaborative effort by Barber Foods, Southern Maine Technical College and the University of Southern Maine to prepare workers for college-level work and to start them on their way toward earning a degree. A total of 25 workers at Barber Foods, a Portland-based manufacturer of fresh-frozen chicken and turkey breast products, have started course work.

Barber Foods, which employs some 800 people, including many from the immigrant communities, is funding the program.

Under the program, employees take preparatory and first-year prerequisite
courses in subjects such as math, English, study skills, and financial accounting. Eight courses will be offered at the work site in 10-week sessions, four hours per week. After successful completion of the preparatory courses, the students will continue taking classes leading to a degree at SMTC and/or USM.

Both USM and SMTC have offered basic skills classes at Barber Foods. But the new “Pathways to Higher Ed” program will ensure that there is formal support and assistance for those employees who wish to enroll in college and earn a degree.

USM’s Center for Workplace Learning, which is affiliated with the College of Education and Human Development’s graduate program in adult education, offers work site programs at numerous southern Maine businesses. Steve McFarland, the center’s work site manager, hopes the new program can be replicated at other businesses.

For more information, call 780-5551.