AIT plus IBEST equals student success

Victoria Hulland dropped out of high school and moved to New Mexico a few years ago. She returned to Tucson in 2018 seeking a new path in life. At our El Rio Adult Learning Center, she connected with our IBEST program in Automated Industrial Technology (AIT). Through IBEST, students can earn an entry-level certificate in an in-demand industry while preparing to take the GED tests. 

Part of a class of 11, Victoria sharpened her college-readiness skills while learning about AIT, which provides the skills for high-demand careers operating the complex automated assembly lines of the future. 

Victoria now has a GED, a Level II AIT certificate and multiple job offers from Tucson-area companies at pay that starts at $18 an hour and can reach $45 an hour, with opportunities to work around the world. 

 Victoria's classmates also found success.

• 1 is employed the field
• 3 found internships through Pima County One-Stop
• 1 was hired by PCC as a tutor in the AIT department

Eight members of the class have chosen to continue their studies at Pima, with six continuing in AIT. One is pursuing an Associate's Degree in General Studies, while another is working toward an AAS in Engineering.

 All 11 earned multiple industry-recognized credentials including:

• National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) certifications (6 modules earned by most students)
• National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) credentials (2 modules earned)
• OSHA10 safety credential

ABECC instructors Mary Jo Chmielewski and Lisa Grenier, AIT instructors Juan Cuadra and Charlie Perkins, and our partners at Arizona@Work Pima County One-Stop are to be commended for a collaborative approach to teaching that fosters student success.