New Mexico’s been chasing technology firms, but this question always comes up: Are there people here who can do those jobs? A community college program is working to answer that question by helping nontraditional students get fast, intensive training, and get to work—whether it’s for a big company or at a business of their own.
Half the battle for students learning a new skill and breaking into the tech field is finding the time and resources to do it. Central New Mexico Community College’s Ingenuity program is offering 40-hour-a-week, deep-dive, coding bootcamps, and in many cases, full-ride scholarships for folks who need them.
Senior Program Manager Andrea Sisneros-Wichman said they’re working to fill a gap by providing the skills people need for both entry-level and more advanced positions at companies. "A lot of students who are getting computer science degrees, unfortunately, aren’t learning the most modern tools," she said. "Whereas in a coding bootcamp, we can update the curriculum every single time we teach it. So they’re always learning the latest, and employers really like that."
Sisneros-Wichman said the program is looking to recruit students who might not otherwise feel like they’re welcome to participate in a technology training program. Applicants only need to show a good level of familiarity with their own personal computer, but no other experience is necessary. Ingenuity will also provide laptops for students who don’t have one and can help with child care or personal bills, as well.
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Applications for the next round of courses are due Friday, March 9. Bootcamps happen all year long.
