Michigan's Wayne County Community College District Offers Free Tech Courses, Broadband Access, and Devices in a Pilot Program

Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) in Michigan has received a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's CMC (Connecting Minority Communities) Pilot program to give students and county residents served by the college free courses, broadband access, and devices to promote digital literacy and inclusion for careers in the tech industry.

Thanks to the nearly $3 million grant, WCCCD will lend more than 200 laptops with included Verizon connectivity on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students.

WCCCD said the program consists of three components: building broadband capacity; broadband access, and digital inclusion and digital skills training.

Tech training courses are offered both in person and online in a six- to eight-week curriculum and offer skills acquisition and certification. Taught by industry professionals from major tech companies, courses include:

  • Entry-level digital literacy;
  • Google Data Analytics;
  • UX/UI Design;
  • Cyber Security;
  • CompTIA Security+; and
  • Mechatronics with a specialization in Fanuc 01 Certified Robotics Technology.

WCCCD is hosting information sessions for those interested. For more on these sessions or to register for courses, visit this Free Certification Training page.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • interconnected cloud icons with glowing lines on a gradient blue backdrop

    Report: Cloud Certifications Bring Biggest Salary Payoff

    It pays to be conversant in cloud, according to a new study from Skillsoft The company's annual IT skills and salary survey report found that the top three certifications resulting in the highest payoffs salarywise are for skills in the cloud, specifically related to Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Nutanix.

  • a hobbyist in casual clothes holds a hammer and a toolbox, building a DIY structure that symbolizes an AI model

    Ditch the DIY Approach to AI on Campus

    Institutions that do not adopt AI will quickly fall behind. The question is, how can colleges and universities do this systematically, securely, cost-effectively, and efficiently?

  • minimalist geometric grid pattern of blue, gray, and white squares and rectangles

    Windows Server 2025 Release Offers Cloud, Security, and AI Capabilities

    Microsoft has announced the general availability of Windows Server 2025. The release will enable organizations to deploy applications on-premises, in hybrid setups, or fully in the cloud, the company said.

  • digital brain made of blue circuitry on the left and a shield with a glowing lock on the right, set against a dark background with fading binary code

    AI Dominates Key Technologies and Practices in Cybersecurity and Privacy

    AI governance, AI-enabled workforce expansion, and AI-supported cybersecurity training are three of the six key technologies and practices anticipated to have a significant impact on the future of cybersecurity and privacy in higher education, according to the latest Cybersecurity and Privacy edition of the Educause Horizon Report.