photo by: Lawrence Journal-World file photo

The Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center, 2920 Haskell Avenue, Suite 100.

The Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center has increased the number of classes it can offer — perhaps exponentially.

Peaslee Tech is partnering with Cengage Learning’s Education To Go program to offer students hundreds of online courses.

Students enroll through Peaslee, in person or online; then the online programs will be used in a number of ways, depending on the content, said Kevin Kelley, executive director of Peaslee. Some will be part of a general career certificate training, he said; others are geared toward professional development.

“It actually helped us bring a lot more courses to the community than we probably ever would have been able to do without this partnership,” Kelley said.

And Peaslee will provide support for the online modules, Kelley said. For instance, if students don’t have the technology they’d need to complete a class, Peaslee can provide them access; also, if a student is having difficulties, or an issue with an instructor, Peaslee can help with those types of student services.

Kelley said many of the courses will offer industry-recognized certifications, such as those for various computer programs. In online course listings, for example, there’s a Microsoft Office 2016 Master Certification Training course available that includes vouchers for the final exams for each program the class teaches.

“Dental assistant is one (program) that we’re really excited about being able to add on,” Kelley said. “Also, we have been doing a computer networking program here, but now we’ll be able to expand our offerings in computer networking.”

In addition, there are classes and programs in arts and design, business, hospitality, legal services, health and fitness and more. There are even some personal enrichment classes, such as a self-paced tutorial, “Get Assertive!”

The partnership will also allow Peaslee to offer classes without a wait for students, since the online classes won’t be restricted to traditional class times and schedules.

“This way, we can immediately get them started in something when they have a skill need,” he said.

Various single classes are available ranging upward from $60, but certifications and full career training programs may be significantly more expensive, such as a veterinary office manager program, which appears to be toward the upper end at $3,995.

All of the courses are listed online and available for enrollment as of Monday via peasleetech.org. The school’s website also offers information on financial assistance.

“I just think that this is really another important step for Peaslee in growing to support Douglas County, and the folks in the businesses in Douglas County,” Kelley said. “This adds just one more way we can do that.”

Peaslee Tech is at 2920 Haskell Ave., Suite 100. For more information, call 785-856-1801 or email info@peasleetech.org.