Work on the 46,677-square-foot Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Extension Center (CTE) in Albany is progressing on schedule as students start to enroll in the eight programs that will occupy the center.
In fact, demand for the expanded and new programs is so great that some of the programs are nearing capacity, CTE Director Jeff Palmer said.
“We already have 80 juniors signed up for our Electrical Trades program next year, and without existing space on the Albany and Schoharie campuses, we would only be able to accommodate 40 of them,” Palmer said.
“Thanks to the Extension Center, we will be able to take many more.” Electrical Trades is joining the Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Building Trades, and Cosmetology programs in expanding to the new Extension Center.
Meanwhile, the Manufacturing and Machining Technology and Digital Media Design programs will relocate there, and the newly created New Visions: Emerging Technologies and Plumbing Technology programs will get their start there.
Though not even created yet, the Plumbing program already has two dozen students enrolled, Palmer said. “We are pleased with the excitement we are seeing in our prospective students to tap into this great industry,” Palmer said.
The new CTE Extension Center will mark the third expansion of the Career and Technical Education Center this decade. A ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this school year on the Career and Technical Education Center – Schoharie Campus celebrated the completion of a renovation and upgrade project there.
And, in 2022, the Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus relocated to a new, 167,000-square-foot, three-story building at 925B Watervliet-Shaker Road.
“The growth we are experiencing with the new Albany campus, the renovated Schoharie campus and now the Extension Center reflects the increasing demand for our programs from both students and employers,” Palmer said. “It is truly a great time to be involved in CTE.”