PUEBLO 鈥 More than 2,000 students will graduate this spring with a degree or certificate from 杏吧性世界.
The college has a total of 2,107 graduates among its campuses in 杏吧性世界, Ca帽on City and Mancos and its sites in Durango and Bayfield. According to the 2020 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report, nearly 89 percent of top-tier jobs in the state now require a credential past high school. These PCC alumni now are poised to fill critical jobs in industries such as health care and manufacturing.
鈥淲e鈥檝e made great efforts to fill the jobs pipeline with skilled workers,鈥 said PCC President Patty Erjavec. 鈥淲e鈥檙e doing our part to meet the state鈥檚 2025 education goal.鈥
In 2017, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education released its strategic plan, Colorado Rises, with a stated objective of increasing the number of Colorado adults ages 25-34 who have a postsecondary certificate or degree to 66 percent by 2025.
Among PCC鈥檚 spring graduates, 1,811 earned a degree or certificate in a career and technical education program such as health, manufacturing, welding, computer information systems and automotive service technology. Another 296 students received a transfer degree that will enable them to enroll as a junior at any public four-year school in Colorado.
Thirty-four PCC graduates earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree, including the first nine students to complete a Bachelor of Science in nursing. In addition, 36 high school students who took part in PCC鈥檚 concurrent enrollment program received an associate degree 鈥 and therefore graduated from college before receiving their high school diploma.
Erjavec noted the significance of this year鈥檚 graduation in light of many challenges that arose from the pandemic.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more proud of our students, instructors and staff,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he work put in by everyone to make it to this point is extraordinary. Graduation is always the highlight of the year and knowing what we all have dealt with over the past 14 months makes the celebration even more special.鈥
