Fairfield, CA) – Solano Community College has earned the California Community Colleges’ Strong Workforce Stars recognition at the Bronze Stars and Silver Stars level for its success in improving student employment and wage outcomes through its Strong Workforce career education program.

Strong Workforce Stars is an annual recognition for career education programs, or career technical education, within the California Community College system. Program graduates show significant gains in factors important for advancing social mobility – a substantial increase in earnings, attainment of a living wage, and a job closely matched with the field of study.

“We are honored to receive these Stars awards,” said Solano Community College President Celia Esposito-Noy.” Our faculty and staff work closely with regional employers to ensure our students are job ready. It is a district-wide collaborative effort with a focus on student success.”

The 2018 Strong Workforce Stars were given to career education programs throughout the state in 12 industry sectors, based on earnings gained, living wage attainment, and employment in field of study. Those named Strong Workforce Stars met one or more of the following thresholds:
· An increase in earnings by 50 percent or more, based on a match to the state wage file, for students who earned a certificate or degree and were last enrolled in 2015-16.
· Attainment of the regional living wage by 70 percent or more, based on a match to the state wage file, for students who earned a certificate or degree and were last enrolled in 2015-16.
· 90 percent or more are employed in a job similar to their field of study, according to the Career Technical Education Outcomes Survey, for students who earned a certificate or degree and were last enrolled in 2014-15.
The Gold Stars designation is awarded to programs meeting all three of the criteria, while Silver Stars meet two and Bronze Stars programs meet one or more.
This year, six of Solano’s programs received a Bronze Stars award and two programs have received the Silver Stars designation.

Bronze Stars:
Automotive Technology where students have seen an 81 percent increase in earnings
Accounting students’ earnings have increased 80 percent
Cosmetology and Barbering earnings have increased 50 percent
Water and Wastewater Technology has seen 85 percent of students attain the regional living wage.
Biotechnology and Biomedical Technology students have seen a 363 percent increase in earnings
Human Services students’ earnings have increased 60 percent

Silver Stars
Fire Technology students have seen an 80 percent increase in earnings and 100 percent of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study.
Registered Nursing students have increased by 66 percent and 100 percent of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study.

“Strong Workforce Stars career education programs are proven to help Californians increase their earning power,” said Van Ton-Quinlivan, executive vice chancellor for Workforce & Digital Futures. “With the introduction of levels this year, we are able to highlight those programs that are seeing significant results, as well as those that are on the rise toward even greater success.”

For more information about the SCC’s Strong Workforce Program, visit www.solano.edu/academic_senate/1617/Strong%20Workforce%20program.pdf. For information on how to apply and register for classes, visit www.solano.edu

About Solano Community College

The College has served the community in Solano County since 1945 when it was founded as Vallejo Junior College. In the early 1970s, the College moved to its present Fairfield site, and is presently serving over 8,000 students throughout the academic year.

In addition to the campus in Fairfield, the College has one Center in Vacaville, and one in Vallejo. To further serve the community, SCC offers courses at Travis Air Force Base, and operates a School of Aeronautics at the Nut Tree Airport.

Currently, Solano Community College offers Associate Degrees and Certificates in various disciplines, to include transfer courses to California State Universities (CSU) and Universities of California (UC), and provides training in several trades. Solano will also begin offering a bachelor’s degree in Biomanufacturing in 2017. For more information, please visit us at www.solano.edu.