An internship program that recently helped more than 110 students to find future jobs could be coming to a close, according to Richard Skidmore, the director of the Pierce College Job Center.
Skidmore made this announcement at Monday’s Academic Senate meeting.
PV Jobs and BuildLACCD have been working together to help Los Angeles Community College students get internships.
PV Jobs, according to their website, is a non-profit organization that provides job placement opportunities for disadvantaged youth and adults.
BuildLACCD provides jobs for students within the Los Angeles Community College District.
According to Veronica Garcia, a representative of BuildLACCD, and Stuart Silverstein, director of public affairs for BuildLACCD, the decision should be made in the coming weeks.
“I’m almost positive that nothing has been cut yet,” said Silverstein. “I don’t think there is any fixed date yet.”
According to Silverstein, Lisalee Anne Wells, a partner for Fullbright & Jaworski, brought this issue to the district.
“She [Wells] didn’t say the program isn’t good,” said Silverstein. “Just some changes needed to be made.”
Silverstein said that Wells concluded that “some of the programs that were being funded by the bond programs, shouldn’t be funded that way.”
Silverstein said that Skidmore overstated the issue.
“We are trying to figure out a new way to fund it [the Substainable Building Program],” said Silverstein. “Or maybe cut the program.”
Garcia’s opinion mirrors Silverstein’s.
“You know that telephone game, where information is passed down and then the information takes a life of its own?” said Garcia. “That’s what happened here.”
The internship program has served 110 students this year and 30 are waiting, said Skidmore.
Aaron Chan, senior secretary to the Job Center and Skidmore’s assistant, feels that the opportunities the internship program offers to students benefit them in the future.
“When I was in school I didn’t have these opportunities, they [students] have now,” said Chan.
According to Skidmore, 8,400 people have come to the center for assistance is the past year.
“We [Job Center] try and help students out as much as we can,’ said Chan. “That’s my heart.”
Skidmore and Chan aren’t the only people concerned with the issue.
“Lets say a prayer that nothing happens,” said Garcia. “But I think we all need to take a deep breath.”
The director gave an update about the Job Center to the senate members.
According to Skidmore, 88 percent of his clients are students and the remaining 12 percent are members of the community.
Skidmore also mentioned the job fair, which will be taking place May 12 on the Campus Mall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In the past, he sent out roughly 10,000 letters of invitations to the 67,000 employers of the community.
This year, Skidmore said he will be using “target marketing” by sending 4,500 invitations to employers who are seeking employees.
“Pierce College is a business friendly campus,” said Skidmore.
An internship representative will be visiting the Job Center every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon to help clients find internship opportunities.
The Job Center is located in the 8200 building in the Pierce Village. The office is shared with Cooperative Education and Housing.
People who come to the Job Center can do research via Internet or from binders that are available on a bookshelf in the back of the room.
“We don’t do any placements here,” said Chan.
Every Wednesday, there is a career advisor present in the Job Center.
The advisor provides aptitude tests to determine a client’s interests as well as editing and building resumes to make them stronger.
The Job Center can also be accessed from home or any computer at info.piercecollege.edu/offices/jobcenter.
For more information on BuildLACCD go towww.laccdbuildsgreen.org.
