The new Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Extension Center opened for students on Sept. 4, providing opportunities for more than 200 high school juniors and seniors to build their professional skills.
Located at 886 Watervliet-Shaker Road in Albany—across from the Albany Career and Technical Education Center—the CTE Extension Center is home to six expanded programs and two new programs—New Visions: Emerging Technologies and Plumbing Technology. One of the expanded programs is the Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation (HERO) program, which previously had only been offered at the Schoharie Career and Technical Education Center. Also being offered at the Extension Center is increased classroom spaces for the Electrical Trades, Building Trades, Cosmetology, Manufacturing and Machining Technology and Digital Media Design programs.
At the start of the school year, 214 students are enrolled in those programs on the campus, which is near the building’s capacity.
“We are thrilled with the reaction of students and their families to the opportunity and we are very happy to have worked with our partners in the skilled trades and technology sectors to be able to launch new programs and increase opportunities for high school juniors and seniors,” said Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Director Jeff Palmer.
Well over 1,300 students are enrolled in programs at other BOCES campuses and off-campus locations.
Students are excited to learn in the new facility.
“I am looking forward to learning how to be a plumber so I can open my own business,” said Marcus Merwin, a senior from Cobleskill who was the first student to walk in the doors of the new campus on Thursday.
Business and labor officials praised the addition of the Extension Center.
“Every contractor that I talk to has a need for younger workers. The demand is from the residential to the industrial level,” said Tom Carrigan, President and Marketing Director for UA Local 7, Plumbers and Steamfitters.
Officials with NY CREATES, which partnered with BOCES and Plug Power to help launch the Emerging Technologies program, concurred, saying the program will ensure the region’s workforce can meet the growing demands of this essential industry.
“This partnership will offer students advanced training in chips R&D and trailblazing technologies, establishing a direct pathway to in-demand engineering careers,” said Dr. Robert Geer, NY CREATES Vice President for Education and Workforce Development.
The new CTE Extension Center marks the third expansion of the Career and Technical Education Center in as many years.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony last October on the Career and Technical Education Center – Schoharie Campus celebrated the completion of a renovation and upgrade project there. And, in 2022, the Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus relocated to a new, 167,000-square-foot, three-story building at 925B Watervliet-Shaker Road.
“The growth we are experiencing with the new Albany Campus, the renovated Schoharie Campus and now the Extension Center reflects the increasing demand for our programs from both students and employers,” Palmer said. “It is truly a great time to be involved in CTE.”