Introduce Your Students to a Future That Works for Them
As a high school guidance counselor, you recognize the builder, the tinkerer, the innovator and the carer among your students. Some already know what they want to do, and others arrive at your office, asking, “So what can I do?”
Maybe they’re considering a four-year college degree but wish to spend some time in the workforce first. Maybe they’re eager to jump right into a job. Or they’re not quite sure and want to learn more before saying “Yes” to any kind of commitment.
Career and technical education (CTE) and dual-enrollment programs available through Western New York Works empower all of these individuals to craft their unique, personally enriching stories. Here’s how you can help them work out their next steps.
Career Exploration for High School Students
Employment trends tell us what works for our region and how your students can fill these growing gaps. Our industry-specific guides let you clearly connect education with entry-level trade careers and salaries.
Vocational and Career Training for High School Students
New York State’s P-Tech and other vocational programs direct those diehard, absolute doers to where they’ll thrive. Kicking off from their freshman year, four years of CTE education segue into a partnering State University of New York (SUNY) program, where they can finish in less time and quickly qualify for apprenticeships and certification with their local trade union.
WNY Works Programs and Resources for High Schoolers
Transform uncertainty into career-focused learning at a WNY Works school.
Alfred State College (ASC)
All students hit the ground running at ASC, with many opting for a workforce-ready certificate or an associate degree that can stack toward a career-track bachelor’s program. That’s an education that gets students ready for now and grows with them for years.
ASC at a Glance
50
Associate degree programs and certificates.
200+
Hands-on labs to practice job-relevant skills.
$2K
Per year guaranteed Hometown Advantage scholarship for full-time, on-campus WNY students.
Career Training Programs and Resources
No one should start their career with crushingly high debt. ASC’s defined pathways and generous financial aid packages let WNY students save as they build skills for long-term success.
Collaborative High School Program
Bring ASC’s top-rated instruction to your high school — or encourage your students to try college with a course or two on our campus.
School Counselor Resources
If they’re curious about a career, show your students how they can make their future happen at ASC.
College Planning Resources
Help students plan their journey to ASC, from exploring majors to completing their application.
Pioneer Leaders Award
Recognize two juniors who display leadership potential with this pre-scholarship award.
Scholarships
Reduce your students’ tuition while increasing their outcomes: The $46 million ASC sets aside for financial aid each year includes $4 million in merit- and need-based scholarships.
Heavy Equipment Training at ASC
ASC students learn safety standards in simulation labs before trying out motorized equipment in the field.
Genesee Community College (GCC)
Dual-enrollment options demystify college and help your students clarify their aspirations as they build credits that can transfer to GCC and other SUNY schools.
GCC at a Glance
75+
Academic programs, including 50+ fully or partially online degrees and certificates.
92%
Of full-time GCC students receive financial aid.
$625+
In savings make GCC a best value college in WNY.
Career Training Programs and Resources
College-level courses taken right from high school. Career and personal mentorship. A clear route to our region’s workforce. GCC helps WNY students make their move, at their own pace.
Accelerated College Enrollment
Have students preview college through this dual-enrollment, for-credit pathway. College Today lets them take courses on campus, our Advanced Studies Program brings GCC-approved courses to your school and Career Pathways aligns courses with in-demand industries.
High School Resources
GCC’s programs, including the Liberty Partnership and TRiO, supply students with the skills and support needed to succeed in school and the workforce.
Admissions
When students express interest in GCC, show them how to proceed, including submitting an application and securing their spot.
Paying for College
GCC awarded $25 million in aid during the 2023-24 school year, including $225,000 for more than 250 scholarships.
Jamestown Community College (JCC)
Once a trailblazer, always a trailblazer: As our region’s first locally sponsored SUNY community college, JCC continues to make career education accessible through dual-enrollment and workforce development programs.
JCC at a Glance
2,000+
Students enroll in JCC’s College Connections program each year.
60+
Programs at JCC lead to careers or transfer toward a bachelor’s degree.
50+%
Of JCC students graduate debt-free.
Career Training Programs and Resources
JCC’s multiple pre-college programs allow your students to start career training on their timeline and save every step of the way.
College Connections
At participating districts, courses conducted by JCC-trained teachers count toward high school and college requirements.
Pre-College Enrollment (PEP) Program
PEP lets high schoolers enroll in up to 11 credit hours at JCC. A discounted rate shaves $700 off tuition each semester.
High School Programs
Connect your students with mentorship, career exploration opportunities and grants that smooth their journey to college and beyond.
Individual Courses
Encourage your students to try out college with one-off courses that can go toward a certificate or degree at JCC or another SUNY school.
Admissions
Give your students guidance as they complete the JCC application and confirm their post-graduation plans.
Financial Aid and Tuition
Eighty percent of JCC students receive financial aid. Help your students qualify and understand the awards available to them.
Planning and Information Resources
For every “Where should I go?” and “How can I start my career?” question, WNY Works helps you point your students toward their answers.
Viewbooks and Brochures
Each snapshot shows your students what to expect at a WNY Works college — from majors and career planning to campus groups and support services.
Campus Visits and Information Sessions
Request a group tour, virtual visit or program information session to show your students where they can make their futures.
Why Encourage a Career in the Trades?
Many are discovering that there’s more than one way to make a secure, financially stable future. Career and technical education bridges the classroom with workforce demands to graduate students sooner, with less debt and with skills that’ll take them far.
The ROI of CTE
6
Months to two years to train and enter the workforce.
$50K
To $80K average salaries with upward potential.
4+1
Programs let students start training in high school.
The Benefits of Vocational and Technical Training
Hands-on learning now can lead to students living their best lives in a couple of years. Here’s how.
Opportunities
We’re living in an era full of opportunity: Older workers who possess key skills are retiring, and at the same time, manufacturing, construction and more industries that power our region’s economy are seeking employees with more specialized knowledge. Oftentimes, a certificate is all it takes to get in the door and on the floor.
A Practical Education
Students learn the tools, software and safety standards to do the job in simulated environments before heading into the field. This streamlined, outcomes-based approach reinforces their mastery and introduces real-world problem-solving and teamwork.
The Backbone of Our Community
These are the jobs that build our region’s infrastructure, from HVAC systems, technology networks and healthcare access to highways and new housing.
Cost-Effective Training
Students typically spend $5,000 to $15,000 for career training versus $27,146 per year for tuition and fees at an in-state college or $35,000 to attend a private institution.
Above-Average Job Growth
According to New York Department of Labor data, careers in the trades are projected to grow 6% to 25% through 2030. Compare this to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 4% average for the labor market overall.
Give Guidance That Works
Show your students the way to a rewarding career in Western New York.