欧美视频

Program graduates, loved ones and UCM Lee's Summit faculty and staff gather for UCM's largest HAZMAT Removal
certificate class graduation ceremony at the Buck O鈥橬eil Center on March 3.

 

Thirty students graduated March 3 from the 欧美视频鈥檚 (UCM) Hazardous Materials Removal Technician Certificate Program, marking the largest class in its history and highlighting how short-term workforce training can open doors to new careers.

 

The ceremony was held at the Buck O鈥橬eil Center in Kansas City.

 

The program, offered through UCM鈥檚 Center for Workforce and Professional Education in partnership with the , prepares students for careers in environmental safety and regulatory compliance. Graduates earn industry-recognized certifications, including OSHA 30, HAZWOPER 40, DOT Health Hazard Awareness and EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP).

 

UCM鈥檚 workforce certificate programs are designed for adult learners seeking practical credentials without committing to a four-year degree. Courses are offered in flexible formats, including online, hybrid and in-person instruction, to accommodate students balancing work, family and other responsibilities.

 

鈥淥ur team is privileged to work with community partners like the Full Employment Council,鈥� said Dr. Laurel Hogue, vice provost for Online and Extended Studies. 鈥淥ur combined strength positively changes the lives of individuals in countless ways, including economically.鈥�

The Center for Workforce and Professional Education works closely with regional employers, workforce agencies and community partners to align training with real job opportunities. Through its long-standing collaboration with the Full Employment Council, the program connects students to scholarships, case management and employment pathways that support success from enrollment through job placement.

 

鈥淭he 欧美视频 Lee's Summit campus is a strong workforce innovation partner of the Full Employment Council,鈥� said Clyde McQueen, Full Employment Council President and CEO. 鈥淯CM's flexibility is crucial in meeting students 鈥榳here they are鈥� by convening classes at FEC facilities accessible by public transportation. UCM's 21st Century training curriculum designed for today's competitive employer marketplace is invaluable to students, employers and our economy.鈥�

Opportunity and growth are major features of the program for students seeking a change in their employment prospects.

UCM students participate in a HAZMAT simulation.

 

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of opportunity in safety work. Once students start learning the skills and understanding the field, it opens up a whole range of career paths they may not have considered,鈥� said Nina Campbell, instructor for UCM鈥檚 HAZMAT and Warehouse Jumpstart certificate programs. She has taught more than 500 students at UCM since 2012. She provides a hands-on, intensive class experience that prepares students for a critically important role in the workplace. 

鈥淚 don鈥檛 just lecture,鈥� Campbell added. 鈥淪tudents need to see it, read it and do it. When they work through real scenarios and drills, that鈥檚 when the lessons really stick.鈥� 

 

Students say the coursework provides both technical training and confidence to pursue new opportunities.

 

鈥淭he program was very self-fulfilling. It explained everything in detail, and the instructor did an amazing job connecting the lessons to real-world experiences,鈥� said graduate Sekou Finley of Kansas City, pictured left. 鈥淚t helped me see how I can grow not only in the field but in my own life.鈥�

Danielle Carter of Kansas City said the training expanded her understanding of workplace safety and hazardous materials.

 

鈥淚 gained more than what I was originally looking for,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of crucial information in this class, and it opens the door to opportunities you might not even realize are out there.鈥� 

 

She added, 鈥淚鈥檇 tell anyone who鈥檚 thinking about it to give it a chance. There鈥檚 so much you don鈥檛 realize you can learn until you鈥檙e in the program. Once you start gaining that knowledge, you see how it can take you further.鈥�

 

Another graduate, Arash Arabi, said the course helped students view themselves as professionals ready to enter a safety-focused field.

 

鈥淏y the conclusion of the course, we felt prepared to meet industry expectations and to see ourselves as capable professionals,鈥� Arabi said.

 

Officials say the growing demand for workforce certificates reflects the need for faster pathways into stable, well-paying careers.

 

Certificates offered through the Center for Workforce and Professional Education span healthcare, business administration, technical trades and environmental safety, and are designed to respond quickly to regional workforce needs. Many students complete training in weeks or months rather than years.

 

For more information about workforce certificate programs at UCM, visit ucmo.edu/workforce.