As the cost of education continues to rise, Americans need more opportunities to access career pathways that lead to family-sustaining careers. Apprenticeship remains a highly effective education and employment strategy, using an earn-and-learn model to provide comprehensive training. Apprenticeship programs benefit students by providing them with real-world, on-the-job training while being employed and working in their respective fields of study. These programs also benefit employers— apprentices have higher retention rates and are specifically trained in the occupations employers need.
Community colleges have traditionally provided related technical instruction (RTI) for apprenticeship programs, but because of their administrative capacity and ability to provide comprehensive student supports, they are ideally suited to serve as apprenticeship program sponsors—the operators of a full apprenticeship program. With that in mind, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Center for Policy and Practice has officially launched the first cohort of our Scaling Apprenticeship at Community Colleges Project. Thanks to funding from Ascendium Education Group, and in partnership with New America and Job Forward, we are working with ten colleges from across the country to help them develop an operational framework and scale apprenticeship programs in non-traditional occupations.
We are thrilled to announce the ten colleges are:
- Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College—Moorefield, WV
- Hocking College—Nelsonville, OH
- Delaware County Community College—Media, PA
- Moraine Valley Community College—Palos Hills, IL
- Lake Land College—Mattoon, IL
- Northwest Shoals Community College—Muscle Shoals, AL
- River Parishes Community College—Gonzales, LA
- South Louisiana Community College—Lafayette, LA
- MiraCosta College—Oceanside, CA
- Tillamook Bay Community College—Tillamook, OR
These colleges are not yet program sponsors and are ready to build upon existing apprenticeship experience to develop new apprenticeship programs that respond to local employer needs. Our project will provide these colleges with the tools they need to serve as program sponsors in such diverse industries as specialized heavy equipment operation, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, education, healthcare, diesel technology, welding, sterile manufacturing, information technology, and agriculture. Through monthly learning modules with national experts and peer discussions over the next year, colleges will work collaboratively on such topics as navigating the apprenticeship system, working with employers, developing RTI, and creating apprenticeship standards. Colleges will not only come away knowing the basics about apprenticeships but will have developed sustainable systems that will enable them to expand to more occupations. By the end of the four-year project period, colleges will have developed standards for two non-traditional occupations and enrolled their first apprentices.
If your college is interested in participating but was not selected for the first cohort, we have good news: A second Scaling Apprenticeship cohort will launch next summer! Keep an eye out for an announcement from ACCT and submit your application then.
Until then, check learn more about the role of community colleges in fostering apprenticeships or visit the project website.
Photo Credit: Photo by Allison Shelley/Complete College Photo Library
