Paul D. Camp Community College and WHRO are partnering in the launch of a new workforce development initiative, called SkillsOnline.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe officially lauded the program in a recent statement due to the need to provide Virginia’s workforce with skills that today’s businesses need.

SkillsOnline is WHRO’s new online professional development and workforce training portal, offering skills-based courses needed to succeed in a 21st-century workplace.

This program is an added benefit for PDCCC students who want access at times and locations convenient for their schedules.

With nearly 3,500 self-paced and instructor-led courses, SkillsOnline is an affordable, efficient way companies can train workers, provide industry certification and offer professional advancement.

“We believe this partnership will help us expand and transform the provision of non-credit, workforce training to those interested in online learning,” said Paul Conco, president of PDCCC. “WHRO is a proven leader in the provision of effective educational solutions to many, and we are very excited about this new opportunity.”

“WHRO Public Media is experienced in creating engaging online learning courses currently used by pre-K to grade 12 teachers and students across Virginia for free, funded by the Department of Education,” said Bert Schmidt, president and chief executive officer of WHRO. “We are owned by the 19 school divisions of southeastern Virginia and use our broadcast and production facilities to create engaging learning modules, which capture and hold the attention of today’s online media savvy students.”

Other partner community colleges include Thomas Nelson, Eastern Shore and Rappahannock Community Colleges.

Working with subject matter experts, WHRO is currently developing the first 5 of 21 work readiness modules identified by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service as those required for employers for career entry and advancement. They include:

• Applied Mathematics
• Reading for Information
• Locating Information
• Internet Use and Safety — Digital Citizenship
• Understanding Health, Wellness and Safety

Courses in SkillsOnline are grouped by subject area with sub-categories for ease of reference. Simplified registration and an orientation plus an online discussion board make it easy to get started. Free online help is available at any time, including free skills and career assessment tools for students and veterans.

SkillsOnline courses are available in 19 industries:

• Accounting and Bookkeeping
• Business Process
• Clean Energy
• Computer Applications
• Environmental Sciences
• Health
• Hospitality and Food Service
• Information Technology
• Logistics and Operations
• Marketing
• Materials and Manufacturing
• Medical Services and Nursing
• Mining and Chemicals
• Networks and Systems
• Programming
• Project Management
• Safety and OSHA Requirements

For more information, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 569-6791.