A couple weeks ago we had the opportunity to welcome Senator Ron Wyden’s Multnomah County Field Representative Grace Stratton to Alchemy Code Lab. She saw first hand what a typical busy day looks like here, observing as apprentice developers (our students) worked in mob programming groups immersed in new coding concepts, while other developers focused on advanced projects. We know Senator Wyden and his team are dedicated to supporting innovative approaches to learning, and that’s why we wanted to offer a glimpse at what career-focused software education looks like up-close.
We also got a chance to talk about smart approaches for training our diverse tech workforce here in Oregon – including things like the senator’s ELEVATE Act. The reason we like this bill is because it supports career-oriented vocational programs that can prove success through evidence-based data.
This is exactly what advanced software engineering schools like Alchemy Code Lab do. We’re filling the demand for a skilled and diverse tech labor force by delivering advanced training. And we can show through hard data that our program launches grads on a path to well-paying, fulfilling jobs. For instance, the median salaries of our graduates with full-time positions in the tech field have increased from $67,000 in 2015 to $75,000 in 2018. Plus, we’re helping increase the number of women in Portland tech. The percentage of women students at Alchemy has skyrocketed from 27% in 2015 to 67% in our Winter 2019 cohort.
We’ll have more data on student outcomes to share soon. Meantime, take a look at Senator Wyden’s ELEVATE Act.
Alchemy Code Lab is the most advanced software engineering training program in Portland, integrated with an in-house consultancy that builds apps for aspiring entrepreneurs and startups. Learn more about our program or email us for more information!