Ahead of its 62nd anniversary on Sept. 6, Miami Dade College’s North Campus is looking to the future this fall by offering a multitude of new courses and the classic areas of study it is known for.
The first and oldest of Miami Dade College’s eight campuses, it will open a new, 14,000 square foot Artificial Intelligence Center when classes begin Aug. 22.
Campus President Fermin Vazquez said it’s not the only new thing students can expect this term.
“[It’s] to support our students not only in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, blockchain and crypto, [but] there will be a speaker series,” Vazquez said.
The speaker series will offer opportunities for students who may not be on AI career paths to understand how the technology may benefit their futures.
“We see how artificial intelligence is affecting every single market,” Vazquez said.
Also offered this fall is the commercial vehicle driving program for students who want to learn how to drive big rigs, school buses or delivery trucks.
Vazquez said graduates of that course will help reduce the driver shortage for trucks and buses and ease supply chain issues.
The college is also bolstering its nursing program by adding a licensed practical nurse credential.
“Right now at the north campus we currently are offering a CNA [certified nursing assistant] program through our partnership with our medical campus,” Vazquez said.
The medical campus is downtown near Jackson Memorial Hospital and will eventually expand to include licensed practical nursing courses for students.
Students can then continue to become a Registered Nurse or get a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
The north campus is experiencing an increase in new and continuing education students who range from recent high school graduates to adults.
“I’m seeing a lot of adult learners are retooling and reskilling to get back into the workforce or are already in the workforce,” Vazquez said.
Students can earn degrees and also can get college credit certificates in different specialties to advance at all levels of their careers.
Vazquez said this fall the 245-acre campus will mark its 62nd Anniversary with “I am MDC Day.”
“To us at north campus it’s very special, because it’s when we open our doors to the community,” Vazquez said.
The college has more than 300 programs of study and many are held at the north campus, where students can attend schools devoted to Criminal Justice, Fire Sciences; Funeral Services and Entertainment and Design Technologies.
At the design school students can study computer animation, film production, the music business and web design. The Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center helps students learn to build a business or a community.
The north campus is at 11380 NW 27 Ave. For more information go to https://www.mdc.edu/north or call 305-237-9100 to speak with admissions.