To help fill some of the region’s most pressing workforce needs, Southwestern Community College partnered with the Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) in Cherokee to train students in construction skills over the past six months.
Their project? Building a tiny house.
Fourteen students drove in the last nail earlier this summer and graduated from the Facilities Maintenance class on July 1 on SCC’s Jackson Campus.
“Oh my gosh, what an opportunity - to be able to learn how to put this together and learn to work with the other people in the class and at the same time, being able to help,” said Keith Monteith, one of the students. “And I think that is a great thing. If we can ever learn to use our hands and our head and our heart, I think we’re pretty well on our way, and this is what it’s all about."
Students developed floor plans and got experience practicing plumbing and electrical work in addition to learning hands-on construction skills that can be used to secure employment.
The partnership between SCC and TERO allows enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) to learn a skill without paying tuition or materials costs.
Tuition was covered by Southwestern, and TERO paid for the materials.
“The skills these students gain will lead to stable, fulfilling employment for everyone willing to learn, put in the time and work hard,” said Scott Sutton, SCC’s Dean of Workforce Continuing Education. “I’m personally very excited to see the progress as this class builds a tiny house from the foundation all the way until the last shingle is nailed onto the roof.”
The tiny house built by the class will be sold, and proceeds will go back into the program.
For more information or to sign up for a future class, contact Latresa Shuler at 828.339.4425 or ldowns@SouthwesternCC.edu.
