The Center for Life Long Learning and Workforce Development

The Center for Life Long Learning and Workforce Development serves as a portal for learning and work across the life span, and functions along two divergent paths.

Life Long Learning provides access to adult learning opportunities by presenting a series of innovative, high quality and cost effective seminars, workshops, and non credit courses with an emphasis on intellectual and personal growth.  We also offer a summer enrichment program for middle and high school students in such topics as Animation, Fine Arts, Photography, Music, Graphic Arts, and Interior and Fashion Design.  Our Infant, Toddler, and Preschooler initiative entitled “MusicPlay” is a collaborative partnership with the State University of NY at Buffalo and is offered every ten (10) weeks throughout the year.  Together with our colleagues and community members, we conduct an Alumni Speaker Series, and sponsor numerous community programs and events including an AAA Pre-Licensing Course, Red Cross Certification, and a WNY Community Health Fair.

Workforce Development provides for professional development and work based experiences ensuring a continuum of life long learning.  We offer certification and credentialing courses for persons looking to upgrade professional expertise and occupational skills.   These courses include Medical Office Technology, Advanced Medical Coding, Entrepreneurial Studies, and the Child Development Associate Credential. The center provides course participants with access to VMC’s Learning Strategies Center and our Career Development Center for job placement and research.  In addition, we specialize in custom designed workshops tailored to fit any business or industry.  These trainings may be conducted at a business location or in our Verizon Computer Room.  Throughout the year, we sponsor seminars for the business professional who may earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for their participation.

The Verizon Room is housed within the facility and features a fully equipped computer center. Authorized as a Microsoft Testing site, individuals can earn their certification as a Microsoft Computer Application Specialist - a worldwide certification that assures businesses that individuals possess the real work skills necessary for productivity and efficiency in the 21^st century.  A Microsoft examination proctor is available for testing each day by appointment.  In addition, the room is obtainable for use by the community at large for an hourly fee with the pre-approval.

The Center for Life Long Learning and Workforce Development is open Monday through Friday and offers day, evening, and weekend classes.  We are a member of the Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce, the Villa Maria College Perkins Workforce Advisory Council, and the New York Association for Employment and Training Professionals (NYATEP).