Well… as live as we can be in a lockdown!  On Jan 26, 2021, the Northlands Job Corps Center Admission Department reached out to Vermont communities, students, schools, and local agencies and invited them to visit our center via a WebEx meeting.  An estimated 40 visitors, plus many NJCC staff members attended our virtual tour.  This multiple department endeavor took some careful planning, lots of patience, and a wiliness to think outside the box.  The main idea was to bring the Campus to the audience by Live video.  The tour started with a welcome from the Center Director, Mike Dooley, who welcomed potential students, discussed services, and why Job Corps is a viable choice at this time.

Then on to Kim Berthiaume who did an excellent job talking about the Counseling Department and the     Career Preparation Period.  Josh Demers added his part and spoke of the joy of math and reading, but most  importantly, how Northlands can accommodate learning plans that students may have when arriving at the center.  Each instructor highlighted their trade and took the time to come up with a narrative for interested   students. After hearing from trade instructors, there was a visit to a dorm and personal testimonial from Sapphire Tucker Macartney and Jackson Meleady. The tour ended with a Q+ A Session where participants could ask any questions they have about Northlands programs and life on campus.

What does this all mean for Northlands?  For the OA department, it means a new way to  connect to potential students.  This tour gave students interested in our program a chance to see it from the comfort of their own home.  Opening our doors virtually allows people to view the campus, meet the staff and feel connected.  The tour also connected to students who live further away.  Vermont is a small state; for some interested in the program, it could take up to three hours to get here.  Now, all it takes is an invitation and logging on.

The Admissions Department spent the last two weeks planning,  encouraging others, and gathering feedback for our success on tour day.  We plan to take this positive energy forward and hopefully work out the computer glitches for another successful live tour in the new    future.  Stay tuned for our next LIVE virtual tour!

Northlands CD Mike Dooley

Counseling/CPP Supervisor Kim Berthiaume

OA/CTS Counselor, Gene Woodcock

OA/CTS Counselor, Rose Nelson