BMCC Launches Free Rapid Response Workforce Training Courses

More than 3,000 virtual workforce training courses are available to New Yorkers, thanks to a recent collaboration between the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development and the online learning platform Coursera. 

The BMCC Rapid Response Workforce Training Initiative will offer the courses and certifications—free of charge—through September 2020. 

Among the courses being offered is the Johns Hopkins University contact tracing course, which prepares candidates for COVID-19 contact tracer positions.  CUNY students and graduates are encouraged to apply for those positions. 

“We are now able to provide all these courses at no cost to people who perhaps can’t afford to pay for an online course during this challenging time,” said Sunil Gupta, Dean of BMCC’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development. “For people who are currently unemployed or other displaced workers, this could provide some level of resource to them and their families.”

Coursera works with a number of learning institutions and other organizations to offer the online courses and certifications in a variety of subjects,

The COVID-19 crisis has led to historic levels of unemployment in New York City. By the end of May 2020, one out of every six New Yorkers was out of a job according to the state’s labor department. But as New York begins a phased reopening, many of those jobs will eventually bounce back, economists say.  The courses at the BMCC Rapid Response Workforce Center Initiative are designed to help workers develop skill-sets for many of those jobs 

“This initiative is for everyone in our community, including the unemployed or individuals looking to develop specific workplace skills,” said Gupta. “Unemployed individuals can use this time wisely and invest in themselves, with no out of pocket cost. Providing our community with access to socio-economic opportunity is what BMCC stands for, that’s part of our mission as an institution and why we sought out this collaboration.”

Courses range from healthcare, business, digital marketing and technology to practical skills courses in Microsoft Word, Excel, python and resume writing. Participants can also enroll in courses such as life-coaching, job interview skills and English for effective business speaking.

There is no limit on the number of courses someone can sign up for at the BMCC Rapid Response Workforce Center Initiative portal.  Individuals who sign up for courses will also receive updates about other available programs and certifications as well as pathway opportunities to formal associate programs at BMCC.

Enrollment in the initiative has been growing.  So far more than 500 people have signed up for courses. Many of the certification programs can be completed in as relatively few sessions.  

“This is one of many steps BMCC is taking to deliver opportunities to our community during this troubling time,” said Gupta.