Holly Free-Ollard, Apprenticeship Manager for the Technical College System of Georgia Office of Workforce Development, partnered with South Georgia Technical College to host an Apprenticeships Industry meeting at the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the SGTC Americus campus recently.
Business and Industry leaders and representatives from the counties served by South Georgia Technical College attended the meeting to learn more about the benefits of apprenticeships. The purpose of apprenticeships is to support the development of work-based training programs by facilitating partnerships with post-secondary institutions, businesses, and industry partners. This work-based learning model supports hands-on experience and helps individuals earn a wage while earning industry-recognized credentials.
“Registered Apprenticeship is a national training system that combines paid learning on-the-job related technical and theoretical education in a skilled occupation like South Georgia Technical College offers,” explained Free-Ollard to the 35 people gathered at the meeting.
“The purpose of a Registered Apprenticeship program is to enable employers to develop and apply broad industry standards to a customized training plan that increases productivity and improves the quality of their workforce,” continued Free-Ollard. “It is also a flexible, customized, and proven model for building your workforce.”
Free-Ollard also shared that employers, such as the ones at the meeting, are the foundation of every apprenticeship program and lead apprentice selection, curriculum design, and program operation. “An Apprenticeship is a job with a paid work component combined with an educational/training component which can include community/technical college or Apprenticeship Training Center courses,” said Free-Ollard.
She also touched on the benefits of Pre-Apprenticeship. “Pre-Apprenticeship programs are not certified by the U. S. Department of Labor, but they are designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in Registered Apprenticeship Programs. To be considered as a Pre-Apprenticeship, there must be a documented partnership with at least one Registered Apprenticeship sponsor and must expand the participant’s career pathway opportunities with industry-based training coupled with classroom instruction.”
South Georgia Technical College and the other 21 of Georgia’s Technical Colleges are members of the USDOL Registered Apprenticeship College Consortium (RACC) and can serve as sponsors for Registered Apprenticeships. Graduating apprentices receive nationally-recognized credentials that certify occupational proficiency from the US DOL as well as a post-secondary award such as a degree, diploma, or technical certificate of credit.
The costs to the companies is $0 and the colleges are responsible for the paperwork. The cost to the student can be as little as $0 for enrollment depending on HOPE CAREER grant qualification and the costs for books, tools, and materials. South Georgia Technical College provides the use of textbooks for students at no cost.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford welcomed the business and industry leaders from Sumter, Crisp, Schley, Macon, Marion, Taylor and Webster counties to the meeting and thanked each of them for their partnership with South Georgia Technical College.
“We have been doing workforce development training for 71 years now,” said Dr. Watford. “We were workforce development before workforce development was cool. We have a 99% job placement rating for our graduates and that is thanks to each of your for hiring our graduates. We prepare students for careers and when they graduate from South Georgia Technical College, our students do not have to worry about repaying student loans, because we do not accept loans. We help them find jobs in their career fields.”
Paul Farr, South Georgia Technical College Director of Business and Industry, introduced Holly Free-Ollard and also thanked the individuals for responding to his invitation to attend the meeting. “We appreciate your attendance here today and thank you for supporting this effort,” said Farr.
Individuals from South Georgia Technical College, the Technical College System of Georgia, Nutrien, International Paper, TCI, Imerys, PharmaCentra, Golden Gourmet, Magnolia Manor, Big Tex, Marvair, Norbord, Harris Press, the Georgia Department of Labor, Cordele/Crisp Industrial Development Council, Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, and the Taylor County Chamber & Development Authority attended the Apprenticeship Training meeting.
