Harford Community College Awarded Grant from the Dresher Foundation for Computer Support Technician Academy

Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland has received funding from the Dresher Foundation to support the development and expansion of the Computer Support Technician Academy into the Route 40 corridor. 

According to Emsi data for the mid-Atlantic region of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, 10,216 jobs for Help Desk or Computer Support Technicians were posted between 2016 and 2021. The median advertised starting wage was $21.60 per hour. According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median pay is $26.69 per hour. The growth rate for this job is calculated at 9% nationally.

The Computer Support Technician Academy intends to offer superior, hands-on training to participants. The curriculum will be built around both commercial and governmental pathways toward employment. The curriculum reflects the most requested skills from the Emsi job posting data. By pairing technical skills with critical thinking skills and communication/customer service skills, the academy intends to equip participants for a successful career in the IT industry without requiring a degree.

The design of the program will utilize microbadging, to recognize skill building and offer participants stackable credentials that will help participants grow within the field. The core of the curriculum will center around the knowledge needed to achieve the following nationally recognized certifications: Direct Customer Service Professional (DCSP), CompTIA A+, and CompTIA Security+. The participants may choose the government pathway by enrolling in the courses needed to achieve the DCSP and Security+ certification, or the commercial pathway offering courses leading to the A+ and CCSP certifications, or the participant may choose to pursue all three certifications for maximum employability.

The program will launch in Edgewood in Harford’s established classrooms at the Edgewood library. Courses are expected to run during daytime and evening hours Monday-Thursday with a minimum of three cohorts per year.

Funds from the Dresher Foundation will pay for technology upgrades, Security+ exam licensing, curriculum development and a Career Program Navigator for students in the program. 

Work on this grant-funded project will be undertaken by the Workforce and Community Education team. For further information, please contact Sherry Massoni, Associate Vice President for Workforce and Community Education, at smassoni@harford.edu.