The College of Southern Maryland is joining 100 other colleges in the
Plus 50 Encore College Completion Program, a national program to train
10,000 baby boomers over the next three years for jobs in healthcare,
education and social services while helping them complete certificates
or degrees.

The College of Southern Maryland joined 100 colleges nationwide in a
three-year initiative called the “Plus 50 Encore College Completion
Program,” which assists colleges in expanding campus programs that
engage the plus-50 population with a focus on workforce training and
preparing for new careers.

An interactive career coaching session will take place from 6 to 8
p.m., Nov. 6 on the La Plata Campus, Center for Business and Industry,
Chaney Enterprises Conference Room, BI-113, 8730 Mitchell Road, La
Plata. Eleanor Nelson from “Coach on Call” will be the featured
keynote speaker.

In 2009, Nelson responded to a request for proposal issued by The
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, the result of a Federal Block
Grant (part of the Stimulus Bill of 2009) to the State of Maryland,
which, in turn, solicited proposals for innovative projects to assist
dislocated workers. As ‘Coach on Call,’ Nelson became a single
source provider as director for the Job Match Re-Employment Project
(JMP.)

Nelson, who holds a master’s degree in educational psychology from
the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, has worked with the Southern
Maryland Workforce Investment Board (WIB) since 2000.

“Many baby boomers are seeking to transition to a next or new career
and this program will help them rediscover a passion they may have put
on hold while they were working and/or raising a family. We want to
build a cohort who will make the best use of the college’s available
resources from updating technology skills to pursuing a new career to
fulfilling fitness goals to checking an item off their ‘bucket
list,’ such as learning a new language or traveling abroad,” said
CSM Community Education Director Vickie Grow.

The program will offer skill updates and career makeovers for those who
want to venture into careers such as dental assistant, CNA/GNA
certification, patient care tech, certified medical administrative
assistant, EKG technician, nurse, pharmacy technician, physical therapy
aid, early childhood education teacher or substitute teacher.

“With solid employment track records and years of experience,
boomers, with updated technical skills, will position themselves for
successful second and even third careers—rewarding careers,” said
Shaunda Holt, personal enrichment department program coordinator for
adults.

Participants can bring their transcripts and portfolios for evaluation.
Information about CSM’s Career Starters training programs, certificate
programs, degree programs and personal enrichment classes will also be
available.

The event is free but registration for the Nov. 6 event is required at
http://www.csmd.edu/CommunityEducation/WFR/plus50encore.html. Light
refreshments will be provided. For information contact Holt at
SRholt@csmd.edu or 301-934-7652.