Grossmont College OPT Connect

Description

In its 32 year history at Grossmont College, the Office Professional Training (OPT) program has trained more than 2,400 individuals for office professional positions that offer ladders to career advancement. OPT provides job training to low-income and at-risk students from a variety of age groups, socioeconomic levels, and ethnic backgrounds, including laid-off and dislocated workers, welfare recipients, single parents, homeless adults, and the long-term unemployed. Many students are the first in their families to attend college. The OPT program offers skills training, personal/crisis counseling, and job placement and retention services.
OPT is provided through the Grossmont College Business Office Technology Department. In one intense semester, students acquire work and life skills while they earn degree-applicable credits in Accounting, Banking/Financial Services, Insurance, and Office/Administrative Support.
OPT is free to California residents. Students receive tuition, fees, and textbooks for the college semester. A team of dedicated faculty and staff includes eight instructors, a personal/crisis counselor, a job placement specialist, and an intake specialist/administrative assistant.
Industry representatives serve on the Business Advisory Council, provide curriculum input, mentor students, conduct practice interviews, sponsor internships, and speak to classes about employer expectations and career opportunities.
The East County (one-stop) Career Center refers students and provides assistance with living expenses. The OPT Alumni Association distributes donated professional attire to the students at a ?Clothing Boutique? once each semester.