June 17, 1997

Contact: Stephanie Boyd, 594-8761 or 594-8762

SDSU Defense Conversion Center Announces New $7M Grant To Retrain Displaced Defense Workers For New Jobs

 

San Diego State University Defense Conversion Center today announced a new $7 million grant from the Department of Defense (DoD) to retrain displaced professional workers impacted by cutbacks in the defense industry. The new programs are free to qualified candidates because of a grant from DoD through the City of San Diego to SDSU Foundation.

According to local business leaders, the lack of a trained workforce is the number one constraint to economic development in San Diego. The New Economy report prepared by the Mayor's office states that San Diego needs to create 5,000 new direct jobs per year in industry clusters such as software and electronic manufacturing. "The SDSU Defense Conversion Center is addressing this need in a creative fashion by retraining displaced defense workers," according to Dr. Charles Shockley, program cordinator. The program, now in its third year, is the most successful of its kind in the nation with an 85 percent job placement rate for its graduates, according to Dr. Shockley.

There are 10 programs being offered this year including:

 

Each program is streamlined to fast-track students through the program from six to nine months and results in a certificate from SDSU. Courses are scheduled to begin as early as June 30, 1997.

Those interested in registering may call (619) 594-4922 or visit the website at HYPERLINK http://www.foundation.sdsu.edu www.foundation.sdsu.edu (click on Defense Conversion Center).

The SDSU Defense Conversion Center is a non-profit organization that provides retraining, training, and job search assistance to unemployed and underemployed displaced professional defense workers. It is administered by San Diego State University Foundation.

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