UTA’s Texas Construction Career Academy Trains Selected Individuals for Highway Construction Jobs
Article by: Melinda Eddleman
Business is booming in South Texas. That growth also includes the Texas Department of Transportation’s need for highway construction workers. Del Mar College (DMC) has partnered with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) to assist with training individuals in the local workforce targeting that industry.
DMC and UTA will offer the university’s Texas Construction Career Academy in April and May. The academy is among several training and consulting programs that UTA’s Public Works Institute provides through their Division for Enterprise Development and is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration to provide training to increase students’ workforce qualifications for hiring by highway contractors on Federal-aid projects.
The spring 2017 academy includes Del Mar providing free Commercial Driver’s License Class A training, including CDL-A test preparation and behind-the-wheel preparation. Selected participants also will receive training and certification in Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10 for Construction Workers, along with flagger and work zone safety training.
“UTA chose Del Mar because of our outstanding reputation in the transportation industry and within the local workforce,” says John Rojas, director of the DMC Transportation Services Training program. “This spring marks our second consecutive year to partner with UTA after training 25 participants who successfully obtained their CDL and entered South Texas’ construction workforce last year.”
Seating for this spring’s academy is limited to 20 accepted applicants. Requirements include having a clear Texas driver’s license and transportation, testing drug free, passing a physical examination and being over age 18.
Individuals need to apply by April 5. Access the application at bit.ly/2mQUVcK. All applicants will be drug tested and interviewed.
Session 1 begins April 17 with training on the DMC West Campus at Old Brownsville and Airport Roads.
For more information, call 866-906-9190 or 361-698-2707 or email jwillingham@uta.edu.
To download a printable flyer, click here.
Of the academy Rojas notes, “This is great timing due to the economic growth and need to fill infrastructure jobs in the Coastal Bend area.
More Del Mar News
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.