In the midst of a growing budget shortfall for the state and the loss of thousands of jobs for Delawareans, there is still hope. Even in these difficult times, Delaware Tech continues to connect Delawareans with good paying jobs, but we can do more. In fact, in the areas of health care, energy and entrepreneurship, there are opportunities to put more people to work. Given funds from the federal stimulus package or workforce development grants, we stand ready to help build and maintain a vibrant Delaware economy in the following ways:

    • We can put more Delawareans in high demand health care jobs. According to our recently completed graduate placement survey, 98% of the college’s 2008 graduates are employed, 95% of them in their field of study. Nearly half are working in nursing and 16 allied health fields such as dental hygiene, respiratory care and paramedic technology. Even in this economy, the health care industry continues to hire our graduates at an average starting salary of over $50,000.

    Delaware Tech has a successful track record of responding to the needs of Delaware’s health care industry. In response to the nursing shortage and with funding from the state, the college expanded its statewide nursing program and, as a result, awarded 72% more nursing degrees and diplomas in the last six years. Based on our recent discussions with hospitals, health care agencies and professionals throughout the state, we know that with additional resources, we could again expand or begin new programs in these six fields to meet their needs: nursing, dental hygiene, respiratory care, health information technology, surgical technology and pharmacy technology.

    • We can create new educational programs for emerging industries like energy. The college has an impressive history of responding to the need for educational offerings that grow and attract new businesses and good-paying jobs. Our new Airframe Maintenance program for the aviation industry is an example of the college’s ability to build and deliver a highly-specialized program in record time. We can do this once again with emerging industries like energy.

    I have no doubt that Delaware could become a nexus of energy technology innovation, application and manufacturing. Programs in energy management and auditing; weatherization; installation and maintenance of green energy systems including wind, solar and hybrid/electric automotive systems; and green building construction are all part of our vision to prepare the workforce and citizens to use renewable energy and conserve energy from traditional sources. The college has already made progress in this area. We’ve offered our first Facility Energy Management certificate program and are collaborating with potential partners to build an “energy house” that would serve as a demonstration lab. The college is also exploring the development of a wind technician program. If the state implements incentives that fuel workforce development, the college could play a vital role.

    • We can help small businesses flourish through entrepreneurial education. Currently, the college is offering an array of campus and online courses and workshops including an associate degree in entrepreneurship on all three campuses. In addition, we recognize the need to capitalize on our state’s niche industries. As one example, plans are underway to serve the life science community by offering a series of workshops for new life science entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses. Yet with additional resources, we could do more. We hope to build a fabrication lab where members of the community could bring ideas for practical, everyday product innovation for which our engineering faculty and students could create prototypes. Combined with entrepreneurial education offering, we envision this as yet another way that we could help small businesses flourish in Delaware.

    At Delaware Tech, we realize the seriousness of the state’s budget shortfall. But while budget cuts are absolutely necessary, it is equally important to make investments in Delaware’s economic recovery. I believe it’s possible to go down these two paths simultaneously. As I’ve outlined above, the college could do much more right now — even in this economy. Applying funds from the federal stimulus package or workforce development grants in the areas of health care, energy and entrepreneurship would ultimately connect more Delawareans with good paying jobs and would be a smart investment. And, as a state, there is no better investment we can make than in our citizens.

Dr. Orlando J. George Jr. is the president of Delaware Technical & Community College.