In the rapidly shifting landscape of higher education and industry, two names are at the forefront of keeping students competitive: Tom Hendricks, Dean of Business & Information Technologies, and Sandra Bachert, Director of Economic and Workforce Development.
We sat down with them to discuss how Oakland Community College (OCC) is adapting to AI-driven change, the importance of hands-on learning, and why “career readiness” is just as vital as technical skill.
The AI Challenge: Curriculum in the Age of “The Buzzword”
The rise of Artificial Intelligence has left many institutions scrambling. For Tom Hendricks, the challenge lies in the lack of standardized industry benchmarks.
“There aren’t really any AI certifications as of yet that are meaningful to industry,” Hendricks notes. To bridge this gap, OCC is augmenting tech education with established quality initiatives like Six Sigma, Lean, and Greenbelt—credentials that prove a student’s ability to optimize systems while the world waits for AI standards to mature.
However, OCC isn’t sitting on the sidelines. The college is currently developing two distinct paths for AI education:
- The Backend: A class focused on the programming and logic behind AI.
- The Toolset: A course centered on “prompt engineering” and using AI as a productive tool rather than a “nefarious” shortcut.
Upskilling: Turning Threats into Opportunities
When people hear “robotics” or “AI,” they often think of job displacement. Sandra Bachert sees it differently.
“Routine jobs are being replaced by robots to enable individuals to have higher skills and higher-paying jobs,” Bachert explains. Through non-credit, short-term training programs, OCC focuses on industry-recognized credentials. Whether it’s their PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) or Robotics Technician programs, the goal is to give students a “broad brush” of skills—combining mechanical technology with programming—so they can enter the workforce immediately while continuing their path toward an associate degree.
Staying Relevant Through Industry Partnership
How does a 14-week program stay current? By inviting the employers into the room.
“We pull employers in to look at our curriculum every year or two,” says Bachert. This ensures that the 90 days a student spends in the program acts as a “probationary period” where they gain the exact technical competencies local businesses need. From company tours to guest speakers, the feedback loop between the classroom and the shop floor is constant.
The Power of Hands-On Learning
At OCC, “theory” rarely exists without “practice.” For both Hendricks and Bachert, the “niche” is applied experience.
“Very few of our courses don’t have hands-on experience,” Bachert says. Whether it’s applied math or tearing down a physical robot to fix bugs, students are enticed by the opportunity to work on actual equipment. Even in traditional classrooms, simulations ensure that no student enters the workforce without having “done the job” first.
Soft Skills: Building Your Personal Brand
Technical prowess will get you an interview, but “career readiness” gets you the job. OCC emphasizes the “soft skills” that go beyond the screen or the robot. Students are taught to evaluate their personal brand, how to market themselves to employers, and the simple but vital importance of how they “show up” on a daily basis.
Looking Ahead: Embracing the Anxiety of Change
Change naturally brings angst, especially when terms like “AI” dominate the headlines. Hendricks emphasizes that the institution’s role is to be reflective and adaptive.
“We have to be adaptive to bring on new technologies so we can show students what they are,” Hendricks concludes. By demystifying AI and focusing on tangible, hands-on skills, OCC is ensuring that its students don’t just survive the next tech wave—they lead it.
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Expert Spotlights are featured interviews, conversations, and announcements sourced through our event series, audio podcast, and newsmaker interviews — developed with the support of industry partners and sponsors.
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