Successful technical colleges and trade schools know their place.

They know their success stems from the fact they are paying attention to the labor market to meet the employment needs of the areas they serve.

William Wainwright, Dean/Regional Director of Louisiana Technical College’s Region 9, says that accountability to industry, as well as being accountable to the students themselves, are primary among the reasons that the system is growing at record levels.

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“We’re not only accountable to industry, but to following through in the entire process,” he said as soon-to-be students milled outside in the hallway, waiting to register for classes.

The four campuses in Region 9 �” Sullivan, Ascension, Florida Parishes and Hammond Area �“ are individually accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE). This accreditation means that nationwide, the campus is recognized as meeting standards of training acceptable for accreditation.

Wainwright said it means more than that.

“We’re unique by our accreditation,” he said. “Our accrediting body holds us accountable for student completion, placement and licensure.”

So, unlike so-called diploma mills where getting the tuition is the key, the process at LTC is not complete until the student graduates, is licensed as warranted and employed.

One the fastest growing colleges of its type in the United States, spring registration is brisk and Wainwright said, “We anticipate an enrollment over last spring.”

In order to keep up with the requirements of the labor market, Wainwright said new courses are being added to the curriculum.

A study reported by GNO, Inc., a public/private partnership formed in January 2004 to spearhead economic development for the ten-parish Greater New Orleans region, indicates that electricians, welders, registered nurses, boilermakers, metal workers, plumbers and pipefitters are the workers who will be in greatest demand in the next few years.

The GNO study found, however, that among the 152,572 people the study found who were not employed �” but willing to work �” only a small percentage had skill sets matching those in-demand jobs.

That’s where LTC comes in.

Last fall, the school’s top programs (by enrollment) included:

• Welding �” 13.29 percent

• Nurse assistant �” 11.48 percent

• Automotive technician �” 7.65 percent

• Practical nursing �” 6.73 percent

• Drafting and design technology �” 6.32 percent

• Office systems technology �“ 6.32 percent

“Look at how many of those programs fit the areas cited by the GNO, Inc. study,” Wainwright said.

LTC’s Sullivan Campus is the oldest (November 1930) technical/trade school in the state and Wainwright said that longevity, in addition to its close proximity to Mississippi, helps it grow.

“You won’t see any billboards (promoting us) and you won’t see us on television,” he said, “But you will hear about us from friends and neighbors and former students, in the newspaper and by word of mouth. We’re growing fast, but we’re maintaining our culture.”

Wainwright said that enrollment numbers won’t be in until after registration closes, but that, “Since Hurricane Katrina, we’ve seen record growth and this is one of our strongest springs.

“Historically, community and technical colleges have increased enrollment in difficult economic times and I told Gov. (Bobby) Jindal we appreciated his keeping our funding intact this year.”

Jindal was at the Florida Parishes campus in Greensburg last Wednesday.