Colleges and Universities as Partners in Registered Apprenticeship
Registered Apprenticeship has emerged as a key pathway to postsecondary credentials, careers, and student success as colleges and universities evolve to meet the growing demand for a skilled workforce. Registered Apprenticeships combine rigorous academic preparation with practical, hands-on training with a mentor, easing the transition for students from school to career. As Registered Apprenticeship expands to new and emerging sectors, colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to help connect more Americans, especially those from underrepresented populations, to good jobs.
Check out our NAW 2024 webinar with Apprenticeship Ambassador Lewis-Burke to explore the roles of institutions of higher education in Registered Apprenticeship.
Post-Secondary Education Success Stories
Discover how local colleges and universities are working with regional and local industry, improving transitions for K-12 students, and forging partnerships across their state to be successful in apprenticeship.
Expand Employer Base
Learn how Harper College expanded on their apprenticeship program footprint
Skilled Workforce
Learn how the University of New Hampshire became a workforce development resource
Diverse Talent
Learn about outreach strategies employed at Reynolds Community College
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is partnering with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to Expand Community College Apprenticeships. To learn more about this initiative and their apprenticeship participant colleges, visit the AACC website.
In addition, as part of the ECCA initiative, AACC created a Virtual Apprenticeship Network Toolkit. While high-quality tools about Registered Apprenticeship Programs for community colleges exist, few are compiled and organized specifically for community colleges. AACC has identified, organized, and, where necessary, created or customized tools for rapid adoption by community colleges.
Registered Apprenticeship at Minority Serving Institutions
The Nation's 105 HBCUs are located in 20 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and serve more than 300,000 undergraduate and graduate students. These institutions continue to be important engines of economic growth and community service, and they are proven ladders of intergenerational advancement for men and women of all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds, especially African Americans. The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) calls for Federal Agencies to work in partnership with HBCU leaders, representatives, students, and alumni, to eliminate barriers HBCUs face in providing the highest-quality education to a growing number of students.
In addition to HBCUs, there are hundreds of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) across the United States—there were 797 MSIs in operation as of 2021 according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. The Office of Apprenticeship partners with the Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) as a part of the DEIA Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Center of Excellence. CMSI developed a report on the current state of registered apprenticeship across Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Learn more about the Office of Apprenticeship’s DEIA efforts on apprenticeship.gov.
Registered Apprenticeship is an innovative and time-tested superhighway in the education and workforce development infrastructure, particularly for communities who have been excluded from good jobs for far too long. Good jobs, like Registered Apprenticeships, help develop highly skilled workers and help career seekers launch successful, well-paying careers. Registered Apprenticeship can serve individuals historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality by allowing apprentices to earn while they learn. The MSIs listed below have launched or joined a Registered Apprenticeship Program. There are 81 MSIs sponsoring Registered Apprenticeship programs. There are 19 HBCU sponsors and training providers (as of March 2024).
MSI Sponsors Key:
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (AANH)
- Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI)
- Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)
- Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI)
- Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI)
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)
- Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU)
| MSI Name | MSI Type | Occupations |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University (HBCU) | Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) | |
| Alabama A & M University (MSI) | HBCU | Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) |
| Albany Technical College | PBI | Diesel Mechanic, Form Builder (Const), Welding (Existing Title: Welder, Combination) |
| Alcorn State University | HBCU | Business Management |
| Alcorn State University (HBCU) | Business Management | |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | HSI | Application Developer |
| Arizona Western College | HSI | Electrician (Alternate Title: Interior Electrician) |
| Atlanta Technical College | PBI | Electrician, Maintenance, Emergency Medical Technician, Refrigeration Unit Repairer, Repairer Welding Equipment |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | PBI | Registered Nurse |
| Austin Community College District | HSI | Application Developer, Computer Programmer, Network Support Technician |