PITTSBORO — A new degree program will begin on Pittsboro’s Central Carolina Community College campus starting this fall.
Electrical Systems Technology will help educate students about repairing and installing electrical systems in residential environments. The college made the announcement in a press release March 19.
Drew Goodson, dean of the college’s Career and Technical Education programs, told the News + Record that Electrical Systems Technology could help CCCC students “move into a good paying job in a growing field at the completion of their studies.” He added that the growth of residential developments in Chatham County make the Pittsboro campus a prime location.
“Electricians are in high demand,” he said. “Initially, we expect the Electrical Systems Technology program students to obtain jobs in the residential electrical industry, and with all the current and expected construction going on in Chatham County, we thought the program would be a good fit.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 631,800 people were employed as electricians in 2017. That was an increase from 607,120 in 2016, 592,230 in 2015 and 566,930 in 2014. The 2018 numbers will be released this weekend.
The program will join the Pittsboro campus’ Building Construction Technology and Sustainable Technology degrees. Goodson said the partnership will be strengthening to all the programs, and he’s “hopeful” that Electrical Systems Technology students will be able to contribute to those programs’ projects like the Chatham Cottage.
The best students for Electrical Systems Technology, Goodson added, will likely be those who are mechanically inclined, work with their hands and have a good foundation in math.
He added that the college has stressed continuing to add and improving this type of program.
“CCCC has a long history of supporting technical programs, even when many other schools have reduced those offerings,” he said. “Developing industry specific technical job skills in a relevant and hands-on way is something at which our college excels and that ability to impart hands-on training will be valuable for our electrical systems students.”