Program # 1: Technology Readiness
Program
The
first stage of building viable career ladders at Muni is to create opportunities
for workers on the lowest rungs to begin to move up onto the available
professional career tracks.
Transit
car cleaners and automotive service workers are an entry-level workforce,
at the bottom rung of the career ladder. Under this career ladder program,
City College of San Francisco provides an entry-level introduction and
orientation to the Muni operations and maintenance departments for these
workers. It introduces car cleaners to the requirements necessary to
qualify for positions as automotive service workers, and both groups
to the requirements for positions as operators, or to enter into training
for one of the maintenance crafts.
Basic
matriculation services, including assessment of math and English skills,
are being provided. Student support services, including counseling,
are also provided each semester to implement and advance the educational
plans of the students.
Semester
I:
-
Career
Overview: This course introduces employees to new technologies
in transportation. The class focuses on introduction and orientation
to the operations and maintenance departments, a survey of the career
tracks within the organization, and an overview of the national
trends in transportation and transportation technology. (3 units)
-
English:
Many current employees are likely to place into English
90 or 92, both of which are Basic Composition and Reading courses.
These are both three-unit courses but credits earned in English
90 and 92 do not satisfy graduation requirements. Material developed
for this course will be themed around transportation, and in specific,
the daily life and work as experienced by Muni employees. Curriculum
and writing assignments will support the content being discussed
in the Career Overview described above.
OR:
-
Vocational
English as a Second Language: Students who require ESL
work enrolled in this class rather than the English course. Content
is linked with the Career Overview through reading and writing lessons.
Semester
II:
-
Math:
Placement
level in math is generally lower than English and that would place
students anywhere between Math E (Basic math with problem solving,
2 units) and Math 840 (Intermediate Algebra, 3 units). Math E is
not degree-applicable.
-
Introduction
to Electrical and Diesel Powered Transit: This course introduces
students to the technical skills required for working with either
diesel or electric powered vehicles. It provides students with sufficient
information to enable them to make a career choice about which direction
to go in the following semesters. Included in this semester is a
job-shadowing component to make students more familiar with the
work environment and job description.
-
Basic
Computer Skills: This is a foundation course to introduce
students to basic computer programs, as well as transit-specific
programs.
Successful
completion of this program will allow participants to move up one of
three career ladders at Muni. For those interested in careers in bus
and rail operations, completion of this program will be considered the
equivalent of qualifying for entry into (vehicle) operation training,
provided by Muni. For those interested in careers as vehicle or electrical
mechanics, successful completion of this program will also permit them
to enter into the qualifying program to take the appropriate tests for
entry into those areas.
