Economic & Workforce Development Center: Impact Report 2017-19

Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGE.

The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program is a collaborative effort between Monroe Community College and the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA) to promote and grow career opportunities through secondary pathways and New York State registered Apprenticeship programs. One objective is to expose high school students to exciting careers in advanced manufacturing through apprenticeships and linking them to college programs at MCC. In the inaugural year, 2019, the program reached over 300 career technical education focused high school students representing over 30 school districts. Students in the program will link dual enrollment college credit to pathways in academic programs at MCC and apply them toward a New York State Apprenticeship program if they enter one upon graduation. Edison Career and Technology High School, Monroe One and Monroe II BOCES participated in the first ever matching day event on December 2, 2019 with 53 students interviewing and 13 companies commiting to sponsor the program. On December 18, 2019 the Orleans-Niagara Technical Educational Center hosted a matching day event that linked 14 high school seniors with 7 companies in the western part of the Finger Lakes Region. Multiple events are planned for late January 2020 where youth apprentices are able to officially join a sponsoring company for a paid co-op or job shadow experience. In total, the program has approved over 110 students for participation, and seeks to expand the program into traditional high schools in the next academic year. We would like to replicate this model in other industry sectors such as IT and skilled trades. Impact: Increased dual enrollment opportunities for secondary students to complete up to 15 college credits before graduation, as well as greater access to work-based learning thanks to the more than 20 company sponsors of the program.

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