October 29, 2002 Feature
Story
Utah
State Program Enhances Workforce Diversity
As a land grant institution, one of Utah State University’s
primary purposes is to serve the people of Utah with educational
and employment opportunities. That mission includes an increasing
commitment to enhance the ethnic diversity of its workforce
and to make the community, as well as staff and students, aware
of the importance of diversity.
"For the last two years Utah State took the lead in providing
English training to enhance employment opportunities for immigrants
in Utah," said Idania Mirabal, coordinator of the Enhancing
Diversity in the Workforce program at Utah State.
"We hope to expand our employment skills training to ethnic
minorities in northern Utah," she said.
 Directed
by Clark England, the program offers ten weeks of free training
to people with limited English skills. Workshops are held Tuesday
and Thursday evenings at Logan High School. Personnel Services
and the Intensive English Language Institute at Utah State coordinate
an elementary and intermediate level class each semester, which
focuses on workplace English and enhances representation of
ethnic minorities in the workforce through education and training.
"We prepare the participants to find and retain employment
through English classes focused on employment, cultural skills
and technical training," said Mirabal. "As a result,
we are improving job opportunities for those who face significant
barriers because of their limited English proficiency and insufficient
technical skills.
"People from the multicultural community with insufficient
language skills increase their self-esteem," she said.
"As they learn more English, they become more independent
and have more educational and career options."
The curriculum features guest speakers from the Department
of Workforce Service, the USU Personnel Office and USU Facilities.
"We appreciate the support of the Utah State Office of
Education, the Department of Workforce Service, Logan and Cache
County school districts and many local businesses, including
Pepperidge Farms, Albertson’s and Deseret Industries,"
said Mirabal. "Partnership is a key element of this program,
and we continue our efforts to increase local and state support
and coordination."
The program, in its third year, has graduated more than 107
students. Some graduates have been hired by Utah State.
"I learned so much," said program graduate Virginia
Perez. "Now I am prepared to find a better job and to make
a good interview. I know how to make a resume and fill out a
job application."
Another graduate, Azam Mohadesy, noted how important the child
care component is. "This service (child care) helped me
very much, and if you didn’t have it I couldn’t
have come."
All of the students echoed Valeria Ortiz’s thoughts.
" “I want to say thank you."
For registration information contact Idania Mirabal at 797-0698.
Contact/Writer: Idania Mirabal (435) 797-0698; IdaniaM@personnel.usu.edu,
Writer: Nadene Steinhoff (435) 797-1429; nadene.Steinhoff@usu.edu
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