Google’s IT Training Program Will Bolster Community Colleges in Several States

(TNS) — CLEVELAND — Google will offer its information technology support certificate to more than 25 community colleges, which trains students to enter the quickly growing field in about eight months.

In an announcement Monday, the company said there are more than 150,000 open positions in the field, and the median wage is about $52,160. IT support specialists manage and solve problems with computer systems and servers.

Google launched the online certificate through online platform Coursera in January. Almost 40,000 people have enrolled in the program thus far.

What the program will cost will depend on the community college where it's being offered. A new workforce development nonprofit, JFF, is working with schools to implement the program.

A number of organizations fund scholarships for low-income students, including Year Up, Goodwill and Per Scholas. Student Veterans for America also funds scholarships for veterans and Upwardly Global funds scholarships for refugees.

Ohio is one of seven states where Google is bringing the certificate. The community colleges where it will be offered in the state are:

• Lakeland Community College (Kirtland)
• Stark State College (North Canton)
• North Central State College (Mansfield)
• Lorain County Community College (Elyria)
• Eastern Gateway (Steubenville)

A perk of the certificate is that students can choose to share their information directly with a pool of employers that signed on with Google, including Bank of America, Walmart, Sam's Club, MCPc and Hulu.

Learn more about the program here. It will be available during the 2018 to 19 school year.

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