New America, a think tank and civic enterprise, has recently released eight recommendations for connecting apprenticeship and higher education. New America believes that in order "to capitalize on apprenticeship's massive potential and its renewed public appeal, policymakers must make it a part of—not an "alternative" to—higher education".
With this paper, the foundation recognizes hard numbers around apprenticeship in the U.S. According to their research, "the number of current American apprentices has only risen by 100,000, to a total of just over 500,000 nationally – a tiny population compared to the 17 million students currently enrolled in college. Some of the fastest growing sectors of the American economy, such as IT and healthcare, have only a few thousand apprentices each."
With the intent of increasing the number, and quality, of apprenticeship opportunities offered through higher education partners, New America has identified the following eight recommendations:
1. Create a special class of student that is also an apprentice and a special class of post-secondary academic degree that includes the core features of apprenticeship
2. Incorporate the definitions for “student-apprentice” and “Degree Apprenticeships” into key legislation
3. Develop a process for expanding the definition of “Registration Agency” in the National Apprenticeship Act, 29 CFR Part 29 to include state education agencies that meet a set of established criteria
4. Create an annual discretionary grant program using H-1B Visa funds to support the development of Degree Apprenticeship programs
5. Expand and reform the Federal Work-Study program to allow funds to cover the tuition and fees of “student-apprentices”
6. Integrate apprenticeship into state financial aid and free college programs
7. Engage key stakeholders in designing competency-based curricula for on-the-job learning, along with quality principles to guide the development of Degree Apprenticeships
8. Create a discretionary grant program in the Higher Education Act to support the development of new degree apprenticeship programs
What do you think about these recommendation highlights? Do they target the needs you see in building apprenticeship opportunities for adult learners? Is there anything missing? I encourage you to take a closer look at the full document to learn more, and then share your perspective on these recommendations.
Best,
Mike Cruse
Career Pathways Moderator
michaelcruse74@gmail.com