Pierce College Puyallup Powers the Region’s Workforce

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Pierce College Puyallup plays a key role in fostering workforce development within the Puyallup/Sumner region, serving as a cornerstone for educational and professional advancement. 

Through a diverse and robust menu of programs and services, such as continuing education and dual enrollment, the college addresses the specific needs of the local workforce while equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in today’s job market. 

Keys to Career Advancement 

The college’s Community and Continuing Education Program, for example, offers upskilling and reskilling to help residents grow their careers and strengthen the workforce. 

“What’s really in demand right now is people who are wanting to upskill what they currently have or reskill for a new career,” says Rachelle McGinnis, program development manager of community and continuing education for Pierce College Puyallup. “Our continuing education courses are relatively short – ranging from six to 12 months – and are completely web based, which makes them convenient for working adults.” 

McGinnis says the college also provides personal enrichment programs and community-based classes, such as tai chi, drawing fundamentals and aquaponics, as well as professional development for the local school districts and military. 

“We have a very strong paraeducator training program, and it’s very far reaching,” she says. “We also work very closely with service members in our community. We’re right near Joint Base Lewis- McChord, so in the Puyallup/Sumner area, there are a lot of military people who are active or retired, and they seek our training. We accept academic credit for prior learning experiences, so any of the skills they have learned in the military, we can oftentimes translate into credit that can make their pathway to a degree much shorter.”

Investing in the Future 

Pierce College Puyallup actively collaborates with local school districts to provide students with a valuable head start on their journey toward higher education and successful careers. Through innovative partnerships, the college creates pathways that help students transition from high school to college. These include dual enrollment programs, such as Running Start, which allows high school students to earn college credit at no cost while completing their high school degree. 

Pierce County Careers Connection helps foster meaningful connections between students and area employers to introduce them to local career pathways. Known as PC3, the organization is a nonprofit that works with Pierce College and local high schools. 

“They work on all the articulation agreements between high schools and the local community colleges to make sure that there’s a seamless transition from the high school experience to the college experience,” says Greg Brazell, director of P12 partnerships for Pierce College Puyallup. “It also helps point students toward internships and other career training opportunities.” 

Brazell says the college’s collaborations with local schools are vital to keeping a steady pipeline of talent flowing to local businesses. 

“We want to start young. We don’t want students waiting until they’re 20 to start thinking about careers and future aspirations. We want to start them thinking about career opportunities when they’re in junior high,” he says. 

Community Minded 

The institution also collaborates closely with regional businesses and employers to ensure its graduates possess relevant skills. Additionally, Pierce College Puyallup provides valuable resources, such as career counseling, internships and job placement services. 

“We are a human resource for the region,” says Chio Flores, president of Pierce College Puyallup. “We don’t have ‘community’ in our name, but we are definitely invested in the community. We graduate more than 300 students every year. Some are headed on to additional training and educational opportunities, but many are headed directly to the workforce.”

“We have a unique opportunity – even as early as at the elementary and middle school levels – to design programs that will meet the needs of our businesses and help students achieve their career goals and have the lifestyle they want.”