Riverland Community College’s customized training department has received an Exemplary Program award from the Minnesota Council for Continuing Education and Customized Training. The purpose of the organization is to promote and support the expansion of continuing education and customized training for Minnesota State institutions statewide.

The Exemplary Award was for the development and implementation of the cosmetology program that is now delivered to inmates at the federal correctional institutein Waseca. The program mirrors the 60-credit program Riverland delivers at its Austin campus. The award is presented to a program that efficiently uses resources of government, college/university and other partners to give the greatest return on investment in addressing the needs of the Minnesota workforce and the mission of Minnesota State’s business and industry outreach units.

The program has been a work in progress for three years, according to the nomination form submitted to the award committee. What makes the program unique is the number of partners involved, along with the rules and regulations that must be followed.  The partners included are the Bureau of Prisons, federal correctional institute in Waseca, Minnesota Board of Cosmetology Examiners, Minnesota State system, and Riverland Community College. Riverland Community College customized training and education and cosmetology faculty worked hand-in-hand to fashion the program to fit the environment.

The first class completed in fall of 2015.  Each student completes with an official college transcript as well as the opportunity to test with the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology Examiners. The program allows for a new group of 16 students each year at the institute.

Riverland Community College, a member of the Minnesota State system, is a community college that inspires personal success through education. Approximately 4,900 students are served annually through a wide range of credit-based educational opportunities. An additional 5,400 students are annually served in non-credit courses. Campuses are located in Albert Lea, Austin and Owatonna. The Riverland website can be found at www.riverland.edu.

The Minnesota State system includes 30 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving nearly 396,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.