OCTOBER 13, 2015
Apply Now for ACTC Respiratory Care Program
Ashland Community and Technical College is accepting applications for the Respiratory Care – Advanced Level Program.
The program is offered by a consortium of ACTC, Morehead State University (MSU) and Maysville Community and Technical College – Rowan County Campus.
Students learn to take an active role in maintaining and/or restoring cardiopulmonary function. Classroom instruction is supplemented with learning experiences in the campus laboratory and area hospitals, and students are responsible for transportation to clinical sites.
Students are registered at ACTC or MSU and take their respiratory care courses at the Maysville Rowan County Campus. ACTC students complete all admission requirements, receive financial aid, register for class, pay tuition and fees, and complete their general education courses at ACTC.
The program meets the standards of the Commission on the Accreditation for Respiratory Care. Graduates earn an Associate Degree in Applied Science Degree in Respiratory Care and are qualified to take the national board examination to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist.
Although hospitals employ the majority of respiratory therapists, other employers include home care providers, medical clinics and nursing homes.
Jobs for respiratory therapists are expected to grow by 20 percent by 2022, according to the Kentucky Occupational Outlook. The average pay for Kentucky respiratory therapists in 2012 was $22.15 per hour.
Respiratory Care is a selective admission program. Selection is based on ACT/COMPASS scores, documentation of observation hours, and completion or current enrollment in required courses. Prior to starting classes, CPR certification must be obtained.
The application deadline is November 15, and students not already enrolled at ACTC must also submit an ACTC application. Applications are available online at ashland.kctcs.edu. Application to the program does not guarantee admission
For more information, contact Coordinator Marlene Vice at MSU, 606.783.1538 or email: marlene.vice@kctcs.edu.
Scholarships for Childcare Workers
November 13 is the deadline for child care workers to apply for spring scholarships in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE) at Ashland Community and Technical College.
The Early Childhood Education scholarships are administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) to help working early childcare employees earn additional credentials.
The scholarships are available to Kentucky’s child care providers who work at least 20 hours per week or provide training in early childhood development at least 12 times per year for an approved organization. Kentuckians employed as a preschool associate teacher or instructional assistant in a state-funded preschool or blended Head Start program are also eligible.
“These scholarships can help our IECE students, graduates and others working in child care facilities increase their job skills and qualifications,” said Robin Johns, IECE Program Coordinator at ACTC. The demand for pre-school teachers is expected to grow 15% according to Kentucky Occupational outlook to 2022, and the average wage is $16.09 per hour.
Scholarship applicants must be working toward an associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or other approved credential. Depending on funding, the scholarship will pay up to $1,800 for tuition each year. Students may not take more than nine hours of classes per semester.
Students can earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree in IECE, an IECE Diploma and six certificates at ACTC. Graduates who go on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree are qualified to work as developmental interventionists through Kentucky’s First Steps Program.
Four online IECE courses are offered next spring: Literacy and Language in, Administration of Early Childhood Education, Sciences and Math in IECE and Infant & Toddler Education & Programs. On campus classes include Observation and Assessment, Curriculum, Applied Experiences and Early Childhood Development.
To apply, students must submit an Early Childhood Development Scholarship application to KHEAA at www.kheaa.com. Students must also fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at www.fafsa.gov.
For more information, email Robin Johns, IECE Program Coordinator at ACTC, at: rjohns0006@kctcs.edu.
ACTC Students Test Well
National tests show the success of 2015 ACTC graduates.
All of the May, 2015 Surgical Technology Program graduates passed the national certification test.
ACTC has again received the annual merit award from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting for achieving a 100% pass rate on the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) examination for the August 2014 – July 2015 year. All of those graduates are now working in area hospitals.
The NOCTI career and technical education skill assessments are used by several ACTC technical programs to provide a standard measure of learning outcomes. The job ready assessments measure core competencies identified by business/industry representatives and educators as important to success.
The Electrical Technology Program graduates, as a group, score 73.3 on the NOCTI compared to the national average of 69.5 and the state average of 69.8. Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education students also scored higher than the national and state averages on the NOCTI assessment.
“I congratulate these students on their accomplishment,” said Dr. Kay Adkins, ACTC President and CEO. “These recognitions and achievements are one measure of our success in preparing students for a better future and demonstrate the diligence of our faculty and staff in supporting student access to excellence.”
Ghost Story Reminder
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Kentucky authors Roberta Simpson Brown and Lonnie E. Brown will sign copies and read from their latest book Holiday Hauntings: Twelve Months of Kentucky Ghosts. They will be in be at the ACTC Library at the College Drive Campus from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
