Bek Gray, Butte College Accelerated RN Track program graduate. Courtesy photo

BUTTE, CA (MPG) - The California Community Colleges, the nation’s largest workforce training provider, celebrates February’s Career Education Month by highlighting the powerful role their programs play in shaping California’s workforce and boosting its economy. Serving more than 2 million learners annually across 116 campuses, the system offers cutting-edge, hands-on career training, paving the way for high-wage, high-growth careers.

“California Community Colleges are leading the way in career education, providing students with the skills needed for high-demand jobs in key industries such as healthcare, climate action, agriculture, technology and artificial intelligence,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian. “In alignment with Vision 2030, our system is driving multiple innovative workforce initiatives to meet the rapidly evolving demands of the job market. As emerging technologies reshape the world of work, we are committed to supporting employers, equipping working Californians with the skills to advance their careers, and strengthening our state's diverse communities to fuel a sustainable workforce and economic growth.”

The California Community Colleges’ work is guided by its strategic plan, Vision 2030, which aims to create a workforce that thrives on innovation, inclusivity, and skills-based education. There are eight demonstration projects that are key to achieving the Vision 2030 goals, including: The Central Valley Transfer; Credit for Prior Learning; Pathways for Learners with Low Incomes; Mental Health for Veterans; Common Cloud Data Platform; Apprenticeship Pathways; Rising Scholars; and the Nursing Demonstration Project. These projects have already started to expand pathways for those who may have thought a college education was out of reach.

The Nursing Demonstration Project includes a new program at Butte College, the Accelerated Registered Nursing (RN) Track, which speeds up the program from four semesters over two years to three semesters over one. It’s a program that is already setting up students, like 24-year-old Bek Gray, for success.

“This accelerated program changed my life. It opened so many doors for me,” said Gray.

Gray, along with three siblings, grew up in a single parent household and had to learn how to care for herself at a young age. As soon as she was old enough, she moved out and into her own place.

“When I did finally get out it was this overwhelming feeling of, ‘Wow, I do have control now,’” Gray said. 

Living alone at 18, she was completely responsible for all her needs, and she succeeded by embracing her independence and getting right to work, first as a caregiver and then—for the past three years—as a Certified Nursing Assistant at California Park Rehabilitation Hospital. Last year, Gray became part of the first cohort of Butte’s Accelerated RN Track. While she admits the pace of the course was challenging, she said accomplishing the work was made possible by instructors and her classmates working as a team.

“This year was the most enlightening and transformative of my life. I feel I’ve changed the way I approach others, saving space and being present. Presence is so emphasized in nursing, having one of the most lasting impacts on our patients,” Gray said.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports Vision 2030, a strategic plan designed to serve our students, our communities, and our planet. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).