National Apprenticeship Week is Nov. 17–23, 2024. This year’s theme from the Department of Labor (DOL) is “10 Years of Engagement, Expansion and Innovation,” and GateWay Community College is proud to be part of that continued innovation to create dedicated, professional pathways for career seekers.
For more than 20 years, GateWay has worked with local employers to offer on-the-job training, with a variety of apprenticeship programs and more recently, credit available for prior learning. Now, GateWay is excited to offer the support of its Apprenticeship Office to employers and sister colleges through a centralized approach to Registered Apprenticeships (RAs).
How does it work? Called the Cooperative Apprenticeships Model, GateWay takes on the stringent regulations and administrative tasks required by the DOL by sponsoring RAs—even if the program does not take place at GateWay. In this model, GateWay serves as sponsor (including internal apprenticeships employees) while other colleges throughout the Maricopa County Community Colleges District (MCCCD) provide the technical instruction. This model also enhances MCCCD's ability to create and offer RAs because colleges are not limited by staff and administrative constraints, and area industry can access any MCCCD program for apprenticeships.
Currently, GateWay offers HVAC and Electrical Apprenticeships, and is getting ready to pilot the new co-op model with Collins Aerospace. For this Pilot Cooperative Apprenticeship, GateWay will serve as the sponsor, Mesa Community College (MCC) will provide the Related Technical Instruction for Electronic Test Technicians, and Collins Aerospace will be the partnering employer. "The MCC Electronics program is delighted to participate in the Collins Aerospace apprenticeship program,” said Joe Neglia, MCC Electronics Program Director. “Partnerships with industry leaders are truly a win-win; students gain experience with real-world electronics in the aerospace industry, and the company gets an inside-track to a pipeline of educated, enthusiastic employees in this competitive industry."
Jessica Brosilo, GateWay’s Workforce Development Manager, said that once fully established, RAs like these are designed to provide skills that are transferable across industry, not just for aerospace or a singular company, so other employer partners can join and other colleges be included. “There are so many combined benefits of the co-ops,” Brosilo said. “Ideally these cooperatives will lead to enrollment increases, greater opportunity for students, and a pipeline of talent for our employer community.”
For more information contact Stephanie Stewart, GateWay’s Apprenticeships Manager, at stephanie.stewart@gatewaycc.edu.