The latest expansion of South Louisiana Community College’s Adult Education program is working to bridge gaps in educational attainment in Lafayette Parish. SLCC and the Lafayette Housing Authority have partnered to bring adult learning to qualified residents of LHA properties.
“In Lafayette Parish, more than 11,000 individuals over the age of 25 are without a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma,” said John Hendricks, director of SLCC’s Adult Education program. “Providing adult educational services that transform lives to those seeking opportunities to do so is our number one goal.”
Hendricks and his team of staffers and instructors will work with the LHA staff to promote adult education to public housing and housing choice voucher program participants. LHA will provide accommodations for instruction at its Center of Hope, Opportunity, and Success as well as each site as needed.
“The LHA’s partnership with SLCC is the bridge for equal educational opportunities that could ultimately change the trajectory of the lives of the families we serve,” said executive director/CEO, Yvonda Bean. “Our responsibility expands beyond bricks and mortar, and we are elated for the opportunity to connect our families to much needed community resources.”
SLCC will also offer education and career counseling to residents as needed, navigational services to residents, and provide assistance to adults wishing to enroll in SLCC courses.
The college offers adult education programs at several of its campuses including those in Lafayette, Abbeville, Crowley, and St. Martinville. Programming includes HiSet (formerly known as GED) preparation and testing, English-as-a-Second Language, English Literacy Civics, community education, and career pathways education.
Most recently, comprehensive adult education services transitioned from Lafayette Parish Schools to SLCC in Lafayette Parish.
Offering comprehensive Adult Basic Education services makes a big different in Louisiana because more than 600,000 workers aged 18 to 64 lack a high school diploma or equivalent at a time when many jobs go unfilled. The eight-parish Acadiana region has more than 54,000 individuals lacking a high school education.
Services at LHA will be offered starting in May. For more information, contact SLCC’s Adult Basic Education department at (337) 521-6623 or visit SLCCAdultEd.com
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ABOUT ACADIANA’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE
South Louisiana Community College is a comprehensive community college that operates campuses in Abbeville, Crowley, Franklin, Lafayette, Morgan City, New Iberia, Opelousas, St. Martinville, and Ville Platte. The college serves more than 13,000 students annually and offers an array of academic programs. Students earn associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates, and industry-based certifications. It is ranked 14th among the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers as determined by Community College Week.