Program Mission Statement
MICC Careers Program emphasizes integrated competitive work for adults with autism spectrum disorder and learning differences across all MICC programs by providing high-quality experiential learning opportunities and employment support services designed around personalized employment goals.
We strive to change the perspective and current state of employing individuals with disabilities. We promise to provide vocational skill-building curriculum and activities, practicum experiences, and person-centered employment support services. MICC Careers Program delivers and evaluates courses and supports to ensure our participants are quality employees and relevant and employable in their chosen industry.
We strive to change the perspective and current state of employing individuals with disabilities. We promise to provide vocational skill-building curriculum and activities, practicum experiences, and person-centered employment support services. MICC Careers Program delivers and evaluates courses and supports to ensure our participants are quality employees and relevant and employable in their chosen industry.
The Careers Program offers a variety of employment services to MICC College students, Community participants, and alumni. These services include job placement, job retention, and service coordination.
Accreditation
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The Careers Program is accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities); an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. Careers staff work with CARF surveyors to ensure best practices regarding employment services, curriculum, and facilities for participants in the Careers Program. A CARF accreditation demonstrates substantial conformance to standards and shows that processes developed by the organization are likely to result in positive outcomes for participants. Each accreditation lasts three years, and involves annual paperwork sent to surveyors and maintaining ongoing conformance to the conditions made effective by CARF.
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College Program - Careers Courses
In addition to College Program classes, students participate in Careers courses as an exploratory period to learn more about various jobs and industries, and then complete industry-specific courses in their chosen certificate program as well as gain hands-on experience at practicum sites.
Year One
First year students in the Careers Program is exploratory. Starting in their first semester, students are enrolled in the Workplace Readiness certificate program. This program spans over all three years, and includes the courses:
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After completing these courses, participants will receive a certificate of completion from Century College upon graduation. A large part of student's first-year is finding an industry of interest and learning the skills it takes to be successful in any career.
Students are also guided through the process of choosing a certificate program that best suits their interests, skills, and experience.
Students are also guided through the process of choosing a certificate program that best suits their interests, skills, and experience.
Year two
Juniors work their way through the certificate program of their choosing. Currently, there are four choices offered:
Practicum
As part of their certificate program, students begin practicum; an in-person training program facilitated by experts in the industry at local businesses around the Richfield area. Practicum is paired with targeted skills training classes based on information that provides students with a deep understanding of their chosen field. Each certificate has unique options for practicum sites, including but not limited to:
Skills Classes
Each certificate has core topics and competencies students will be exposed to such as:
As students progress into their program, they begin to branch off into targeted areas useful for their future such as reading vitals, working a cash register, planning and budgeting catering orders, or using hotel booking databases.
- Retail / Hospitality
- Culinary
- Health / Human Services
Practicum
As part of their certificate program, students begin practicum; an in-person training program facilitated by experts in the industry at local businesses around the Richfield area. Practicum is paired with targeted skills training classes based on information that provides students with a deep understanding of their chosen field. Each certificate has unique options for practicum sites, including but not limited to:
- Great Wolf Lodge
- Good Grocer
- YMCA Southdale
- Saint Paul Opportunity Center
Skills Classes
Each certificate has core topics and competencies students will be exposed to such as:
- workplace communication,
- work/life balance,
- transportation to work, and
- time management.
As students progress into their program, they begin to branch off into targeted areas useful for their future such as reading vitals, working a cash register, planning and budgeting catering orders, or using hotel booking databases.
Year three
Seniors work with Instructors to finish their last course towards their Employment Readiness Certificate. Seniors take Employment Support and Retention, a course designed to guide students through modern workplace environments and benefits such as retirement funds, taxes, paycheck breakdown, and health insurance.
Students are matched with an MICC Job Developer who aids in developing employment goals and a job placement plan with the ultimate goal of supporting students in their job search, and, once employed, retention services are available as determined by participants.
Students are matched with an MICC Job Developer who aids in developing employment goals and a job placement plan with the ultimate goal of supporting students in their job search, and, once employed, retention services are available as determined by participants.
Century College Certificates
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Certificates are offered by the Careers Program to junior College students as a training program to give them the skills and experience they need to feel confident and ready to start employment. Students are supported by Careers instructors in choosing their certificate program based on their strengths and interests. There are currently four certificates to choose from, each with their own unique practicum sites where students volunteer under the direction of employees to gain hands-on experience in the industry.
Each certificate is accredited by Century College by Vocational Program Consultants as part of their Continuing Education and Customized Training Program. Certificates are granted contingent on an in-depth annual audit that looks at curriculum, learning objectives, and resources created and maintained by Careers instructors. |
“Century College is proud to certify these programs as they reflect some of the best instruction of its type in the country.” “...these programs were found to be well instructed, well-resourced and strong in both curricular structure and instructional technique. The curriculum continues to be among the most complete reviewed for Century College certification. The modifications and adaptations your faculty made to their curriculum and learning experiences in response to the COVID pandemic are impressive!” - 2021 accreditation review |
Career Services
Career Services are available to Community Program participants and MICC alumni at any time post-graduation. Participants are assisted with an individualized, person-centered process to access services, supports, and resources of their choosing to achieve and maintain their desired employment outcome. Service areas include:
Services are designed to assist participants who are seeking employment to learn about opportunities within the community and choose outcomes that are based on their preferences, strengths, abilities, and needs.
Once employment is obtained, participants have the option to receive job retention supports such as training at the new job, problem-solving, job advancement, transportation training to the job site, and continuing education courses.
- Employment Exploration Services
- Employment Placement Services
- Employment Retention Services
Services are designed to assist participants who are seeking employment to learn about opportunities within the community and choose outcomes that are based on their preferences, strengths, abilities, and needs.
Once employment is obtained, participants have the option to receive job retention supports such as training at the new job, problem-solving, job advancement, transportation training to the job site, and continuing education courses.
NEW: Specialized Employment Skills Program
The new Specialized Employment Skills Program helps young adults with autism and other learning differences to develop valuable employment skills. Bringing together MICC's best resources and tapping into the expertise of the dynamic team from our comprehensive Careers Program, we've created an exceptional 5-month opportunity.
Participants will connect and engage through a diverse mix of individual and small group modules. Engaging and educational sessions will be provided in the areas of:
Participants will connect and engage through a diverse mix of individual and small group modules. Engaging and educational sessions will be provided in the areas of:
- Skills certificate training in the hospitality/food service industry
- Workplace Readiness certificate training
- Adaptive Work Experience and experiential learning
Learn More
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Meet the Team
Anna Hilfers Chief Programs Officer |
Scott Schneider Experiential Learning Manager |
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