By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – The opportunity to get next level education and create career paths just got a little better for Slidellians and those in this area.
The re-opening of the Slidell Regional Education Center was kicked off with a gathering of all the key parties, now enhanced with Northshore Technical Community College joining LSU and UNO at the Slidell Business Center campus on Gause Boulevard.
LSU and UNO had teamed up before COVID to open the Education Center, bringing nearby classes to Slidell from those colleges. The classes cover a gamut of areas and can be part of work for a full degree at the university, as well as many seminar topics that provide continuing education for different industries.
Northshore Technical College, with its main area campus off Hwy. 434 in Lacombe, will now offer a number of classes to provide short term certifications for those interested in CDL driving licenses, Emergency Medical Certification, crane operators, fiber optics, construction site safety technicians and several others, said Dr. William Wainwright.
“I think NTCC coming here to the Slidell Education Center will only enhance what UNO and LSU are doing,” added Wainwright.
NTCC has seen its enrollment numbers explode year-after-year with many people now interested in the extensive course list that provides full certifications or graduation in just two years to get training for what can be high-paying jobs.
LSU and UNO already have a long list of courses that are offered, including professional development courses that companies can use to set up entire classes for their employees.
The center originally opened in 2017, but then was sidelined by COVID. Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer said he was excited to finally get all the pieces in place to re-open.
The city of Slidell provides the space to the schools at the business center, then is allowed two spots for management classes so they can send some of their employees to get training in management and other areas.
To get more information on the classes available, go online to: pace.uno.edu.