UNM-Gallup’s Center for Career and Technical Education prepares students for the real world

With a new director at the helm alongside a dedicated long-time coordinator, the Center for Career and Technical Education (CCTE) at The University of New Mexico-Gallup is collaborating with area high schools to provide students with hands-on, career-focused education.

The Center for Career and Technical Education is a cooperative effort between UNM-Gallup and Gallup-McKinley County Schools, Rehoboth Christian School, Gallup Christian School, Zuni Public School District, Wingate High School, Middle College High School and Hozho Academy to offer career and technical education courses to the community.

"We have different programs of study mostly focusing on high-demand, high-skill jobs," said Karla Baldonado, who returned to UNM-Gallup as the new CCTE director in December 2023. "These are technical courses of study geared toward preparing students for a more real-world scenario once they hit their chosen job field."

Gaining on-the-job training

The CCTE programs of study include:

• Automotive technology
• Construction technology
• Cosmetology
• Criminal justice
• Culinary arts
• Design and digital media
• Fire science technology
• Health careers
• Multi-Vocational Service Occupations (MVSO)
• Students Achieving New Directions (SAND)
• Welding technology
  

"I'm very passionate about this program. I see its potential. When you get a new set of students at the beginning of the year, you literally see their growth throughout the year. … You can see them change. And we're here to support them. We're here to help them succeed."

- CCTE Program Coordinator Bobbi Campos

Baldonado explained the MVSO and SAND programs work with community businesses to provide students with on-the-job training.

Students can gain experience working at places such as Point S American Tire, the Community Pantry, local elementary schools and the UNM-Gallup Bookstore.

CCTE Program Coordinator Bobbi Campos said students sometimes receive job offers from their work site after they finish the program.

Learning skills at minimal cost

Baldonado said students will also learn soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills through the CCTE program. They can gain a better connection to their community too.

Class sizes average about 15 students, and students can earn up to 18 credits participating in CCTE, giving them a jump start on the degree or career they want to pursue.

"And it's minimal cost to them because the home high schools pay for fees and textbooks," Baldonado said. "They're getting bussed in, so transportation is provided and they spend half a day on a college campus learning college and employee skills. They are gaining the skills they need for the real world from faculty who are experts in their field."

Campos said students work with their school counselors to get into the program. Students who are interested in joining the CCTE program should speak to their school counselor first.

From there, Campos works closely with the counselors to make sure everything is in order for the students.

"I'm very passionate about this program," Campos said. "I see its potential. When you get a new set of students at the beginning of the year, you literally see their growth throughout the year. … You can see them change. And we're here to support them. We're here to help them succeed."

"Faculty are super passionate about what they do as well in their given fields," Baldonado added. "There's a lot of support for the students in this program, for sure."

Supporting student success

Many students in CCTE also participate in SkillsUSA, which is an added opportunity to practice their work-related skills and showcase them in a competitive setting. UNM-Gallup and several local high schools have SkillsUSA chapters. In recent years, the UNM-Gallup SkillsUSA Chapter has seen success at the state and national levels.

Campos said a benefit of the CCTE program and SkillsUSA is that students' creativity comes out, such as cosmetology students creating unique hair designs or welding students sculpting works of art.

Campos has been working at UNM-Gallup for 26 years. She started as an admin assistant II and admin assistant III before landing in her current role as CCTE program coordinator.

"It's all about helping the students succeed," she said.

Baldonado is also a familiar face at UNM-Gallup. Previously, she managed the Center for Academic Learning for seven years. She then spent a year working from home, but returned to UNM-Gallup to take the job as CCTE director.

"I really missed working with students," she said. "That's one thing that I feel like fills my every day - working with students, supporting them and their college goals."

For questions about the Center for Career and Technical Education, contact:

• Karla Baldonado, 505-863-7705 or [email protected].
• Bobbi Campos, 505-863-7555 or [email protected].

To learn more about the program, please visit the CCTE website here.