For Immediate Release: 

Plaquemine, LA - River Parishes Community College (RPCC) is announcing new Workforce craft training opportunities this fall at the Westside campus in Plaquemine as well a recruiting opportunity for Workforce instructors.

The campus is offering Level one NCCER credentials in Instrumentation, Electrical, Millwright and Pipefitting, as well as AWS credentialing in Welding. There will be opportunities for additional training in these areas and beyond in future semesters. The goal is to offer training in the industry that facilitates employability and advancement in this community.

RPCC Westside is working closely with industry partners to assess area needs and opportunities, as well as to keep costs as affordable as possible to facilitate growth in the region. The craft training classes this fall will be offered Monday through Thursday in the evening, as well as on Saturdays for welding.

“The Plaquemine area is a unique region surrounded by opportunities for employment in high-wage/high-demand occupations from healthcare to construction,” said Will Seaman, Interim Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development. “The Westside Campus of River Parishes Community College, located behind Plaquemine High School, is ready to serve its community by offering diverse courses such as nursing assistant, instrumentation, millwright, pipefitting, welding and others that meet the requirements for employment in these career sectors with both academic and workforce-based credentials. With the support of local industry, River Parishes Community College is excited to provide knowledge and skill-based training that can open doors to fulfilling lifelong careers.”

In addition, RPCC is seeking qualified instructors to teach classes in instrumentation, electrical, management, welding, pipefitting, millwright, CNA, IT, green technology, HVAC, phlebotomy and more. Experience and proper credentialing in the profession is required, as well as an interest in serving as a steward for the industry.

“We know that the best people to train new and advancing members of these industries are those with a wealth of experience on the job and a desire to pass that experience on to new workers,” said Jessica Abernathy, Interim Director of RPCC Westside. “Our goal is to ensure that the people in this community have the opportunity to learn new skills or upgrade their current skills from the best these various industries have to offer, to help grow the economy and quality of life in Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parishes and beyond.”

There will be an Open House for those interested in becoming Workforce instructors at RPCC Westside on Thursday, July 28th at 6 p.m.

“At River Parishes Community College, we believe that the best path to lifelong career opportunities for current and future students is through dynamic and innovative training provided by subject matter experts in their fields,” Seaman added. “To be a quality instructor requires years of experience at a journey-or technician level, leadership skills and the desire to share knowledge to the current and up-and-coming workforce. River Parishes Community College Westside Campus is looking for these such individuals to help steer the workforce of tomorrow and help bring a better quality of life to residents living in the Westside area.  If you are interested in developing a better workforce for our region and being a part of an exciting opportunity of giving back, please contact the Westside Campus. We would be happy to have you on board.”

Workforce craft training classes in Instrumentation, Electrical, Millwright, Pipefitting, Welding and Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) begin the week of August 22nd. Anyone interested in joining or teaching a class can visit the RPCC website at rpcc.edu or call RPCC Westside at (225) 687-5500.

Westside’s Campus is located at 25250 Tenant Rd., Plaquemine, LA 70764. For more information, contact Jessica Abernathy at (225) 687-5501 or [email protected].