New DACC, Union Pacific academy offers fast track into industrial careers

Prior to the October 2022 start date for trainings, the halls seemed just a little empty in the Doña Ana Community College Sunland Park Center. But the hallways were soon transformed and filled with students bustling past the “Union Pacific Industrial Careers” mural that  fills the wall opposite the center’s computer lab. This academy is going to be one that residents and employers will benefit from for years to come. 

The academy will train residents of Sunland Park and Santa Teresa in career fields. The academy, a partnership of DACC and Union Pacific Railroad, offers fast-track training and skills to provide residents with better paying careers while simultaneously meeting the demands of area employers. This workforce training academy will provide adults with skills in logistics, warehousing, transportation, manufacturing and more. Classrooms are filled with state-of-the-art equipment, made possible by a $350,000 grant by Union Pacific. The contribution also will help with scholarships for students.

“These training and certification programs can be completed quickly, between six months and a year,” says DACC President Mónica Torres. “The academy will also become a resource for established trade professionals who want to maintain industry credentials or advance their careers, which is important for employers.”

The academy will provide students with job-shadowing, workplace observation and internship opportunities in the field, along with basic technology skills and English-language learning. Registration for classes is ongoing for those who are interested. 

For more information on the Union Pacific Industrial Careers Academy visit nmsu.link/UPAcademy, call 575-527-7776 or email ctp@nmsu.edu. The DACC Sunland Park Center is located at 3365 McNutt Road in Sunland Park, New Mexico.