Stay Informed
Get information about Altierus and what’s happening in higher education. Stay up to date on current events and trending topics covered by the media.
Get information about Altierus and what’s happening in higher education. Stay up to date on current events and trending topics covered by the media.
MARCH 01, 2021
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 32 Dental Assistant Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 74 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. Read more >
Jun 09, 2021
TAMPA, Fla. — As more and more of us remove our face masks, we’re getting to see more and more smiles while out and about. There is a new non-profit organization in Tampa that’s aiming to make sure our veterans are smiling the brightest. Read more >
June 29, 2021
TAMPA, Fla. - A former Air Force veteran is on a mission to help her band of brothers by helping to brighten up their smiles.
Altierus Career College dental instructor Eurika Peebles gives hands-on training in the Bayshore Dental Center Mobile Dental Van in Tampa. She's been a dental hygienist for 15 years. Read more >
Eurika Peebles, CRDH, BAS, a veteran herself, supports vets’ dental health through her non-profit organization Operation Combat Smiles.
When it comes to serving her community, Eurika Peebles, CRDH, BAS, isn’t one to wait around. She now hits the road in a van tricked out with the furnishings of a dental office to expand oral healthcare access to those who may otherwise go without it. “It’s become my passion,” she says. Read more >
Sept 01, 2021
When Tucker Green took the reins as Executive Director for the Conditioned Air Association of Georgia (CAAG), he recognized the industry needed more than an infusion of talent. It needed new sources of talent and new approaches to developing it. The imminent threat of retirement by many HVAC professionals was only exacerbated by shortfall in labor supply during the pandemic. He knew the industry needed to take new action. Read more >
Sept 03, 2021
Altierus Career College (ACC) in Atlanta and Altierus Training Solutions (ATS) recently renewed membership in CAAG at the statewide level for 2021-22. Both entities are part of ECMC Education a nonprofit provider of educational solutions rooted in innovation, employer collaboration and industry stewardship. Read more >
Houston Business Journal
The COVID-19 pandemic caused chaos in the workforce across the country, and Texas was not immune to the fluctuations. While employment numbers have continued to shift locally, the large demand for workers to fill middle-skill positions–those that require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree–remains.
Recent natural disasters that impacted our state’s power grid illustrated the need for skilled workers in the trades–not only to fix the ongoing situation but also to ensure the infrastructure of our communities is able to function now into the future. To fill the need, we must build our pipeline of trained workers and support initiatives that champion the opportunities that career and technical education (CTE) provide for the individual worker, as well as for employers and the communities they serve.
In Houston, 1.4 million jobs are middle-skill positions in key industries like manufacturing, trades and healthcare. Unfortunately, local employers are seeing major workforce shortages as they seek to fill these jobs.
As employers struggle with the current situation, the next generation of workers appears to be embracing the opportunities that CTE provides. A recent study by ECMC Group found that the incoming generation of workers is prioritizing career readiness in their postsecondary education, and believes they can be successful with education credentials attained in less than three years. Combined with significant concerns about student debt, these soon-to-be workers see that shorter, less expensive education pathways provided by CTE make sense.
This mindset can also be seen in Houston-area CTE programs, which saw enrollment spike during the pandemic as students turned to “essential work” to become more immune to the economic climate.
At Altierus Career College, we’ve also experienced an influx in our skilled trades and healthcare programs from those looking to quickly enter the workforce in positions less likely to experience a downturn due to health crises or natural disasters. Partners such as Trio Electric and WellMed have continued contributing to our programs and hiring our graduates to fill these critical positions.
To ensure employers have sufficient access to skilled labor, industry leaders and educators need to come together to develop high-quality programs that get workers into the field quickly, while partnering to ascertain that learners have the skills to be successful. At Altierus, we engage our employer partners on a multitude of levels, from gathering their input on our curriculum to developing “learn and earn” models where students have the opportunity for on-the-job training that includes compensation.
Several organizations are seeing the need and making strides to stem the tide. One example is Upskill Houston, an effort of the Greater Houston Partnership that aims to strengthen the pipeline of skilled workers employers need to create better pathways to opportunity and prosperity through middle-skills jobs. At the same time, the Texas Workforce Commission recently proposed setting aside $9 million focused on closing the middle-skills gap through “job creation, job preparedness and job progression activities.”
To further support those entering and re-entering the workforce, employers can also reassess their hiring requirements. As our future workers and economy become more reliant on skills than degrees, employers must reconsider recruitment strategies based on education level. By lessening the requirement for a degree, companies have the ability to welcome workers with a wider range of educational backgrounds, experiences and diverse perspectives.
As Houston looks to embrace full economic recovery, CTE must be part of the conversation if we are to include a broad array of employers and future workers in the discussion. By coming together, we can remove stigmas associated with so-called alternative pathways and bring the education that fills essential position where it should be–into the mainstream.
Greg Garrett is the campus director at Altierus Career College in Houston.
Sept 30, 2021
Three Houston organizations have joined forces to support diversity in the service technician industry by offering free career and technical education training that is coupled with a paid internship and an offer of full-time employment at Hobart Service after successful completion of the program. Program participants receive a scholarship to attend Altierus Career College Houston campus as well as on-the-job experience from Hobart Service, a nationwide leader in the industry. Houston Area Urban League is a sponsor of the initiative. Read more >
September 27, 2021
HOUSTON, Texas—Three Houston organizations have joined forces to support diversity in the service technician industry by offering free career and technical education training that is coupled with a paid internship and an offer of full-time employment at Hobart Service after successful completion of the program. Program participants receive a scholarship to attend Altierus Career College’s Houston campus as well as on-the-job experience from Hobart Service, a nationwide leader in the industry. Houston Area Urban League is a sponsor of the initiative. Read more >
June 07, 2021
NORCROSS, Ga.—Altierus Career College’s Norcross campus has named Sharon Clay campus director. Clay will oversee campus management and strategy, as well as day-to-day operations supporting academic quality, student engagement and student success in all programs and services. Read more >
March 30, 2021
The following article is from Gwinnett Forum
While the pandemic brought many challenges for educators in 2020, Altierus Career College in Norcross found unique ways to continue to serve students so they could thrive in their educational journeys. Prior investments in technology-enabled coursework allowed instructors to leverage a distance-learning platform for virtual labs and workplace simulations to keep students engaged. Read more >
February 11, 2021
TAMPA, Fla.–Altierus Career College-Tampa and Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA), Clearwater, today announced a new partnership designed to help fill gaps in the nursing workforce. Through this partnership, students that complete the medical assisting or patient care technician program at UMA will receive transfer credit to enter the Nursing Associate of Science program at Altierus, ultimately reducing tuition cost and potentially shortening the time to graduate. Read more >
ECMC Education is soliciting Request for Proposals (RFPs) for a variety of projects to support the transition to distance learning that was required due to the current and ongoing pandemic. As part of the Digital Ecosystem initiative designed to improve current student’s access to campus resources and course materials, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) funds will be used to cover such costs that are associated with a significant change in the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus.
Solutions should integrate seamlessly across existing systems and facilitate a cohesive student experience from matriculation to graduation. Integrated technology promoting a holistic student experience will provide centralized data storage and retrieval capabilities, automatic early alert and at-risk tools, multiple communication channels, scalable and innovative career services solutions, and robust financial aid and student verification capabilities.
ECMC Education strives for equal competition among all interested parties.
For more details on the RFP process click here.
August 26, 2020
As it expands its growing team of HVAC-R technicians, CoolSys™, a parent of market-leading refrigeration and HVAC services companies nationwide, has partnered with ECMC Education to launch a multi-faceted, online training program for its technicians. Read more >
July 22, 2020
Altierus Career College-Tampa announced it has appointed Tim Dengler campus director, effective July 15, 2020. In this role, he will oversee all campus operations and strategic direction for the career and technical programs Altierus provides. Read more >
June 24, 2020
Amidst a global pandemic, American teenagers remain steadfast in their belief that higher education plays a key role in their future success; however, the paths they are planning to take after high school differ from previous generations. Read more >
February 28, 2020
Aligning higher education with the needs of the workforce and employers has become a common theme as innovation disrupts the status quo and revolutionizes the labor needs of today’s economy. Read more >
January 28, 2020
In November 2019, ECMC Education launched a pilot program utilizing virtual reality (VR) in its Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) program offered at the Altierus Career College-Tampa campus. Read more >
December 19, 2019
Altierus Career College’s Houston campus has appointed Greg Garrett as the new campus director. Garrett will oversee campus management and strategy, as well as day-to-day operations supporting academic quality, student enagement and student success in all programs and services. Read more >
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If you are a member of the media and have questions about Altierus, please send your inquiry to: press@zenith.org.
Altierus Career College shares in the concern for the health, safety, and welfare of our communities. Due to COVID-19, we have modified our learning formats at each of our schools to accommodate smaller groups of students and allow for physical distancing. Students and faculty must wear face masks while on campus and we’re following extra safety precautions, which includes meticulous cleaning between labs.
Remote coursework, through our blended programs, will still be part of the learning experience, enabling students to move forward toward graduating on schedule. Students complete a majority of their coursework at home and are on campus only a few days a week.
We’re being thoughtful in our decision making with the health and safety of our students and staff top of mind. We’re closely following this fluid situation while evaluating local and state recommendations. If you have questions about our current procedures, please call your local campus.
Click here for COVID-19 updates