KYLE LONG
“I thought school was out of the question.”
KELLY BAKER
“We are very blessed to have a program like this.”
and ON THE JOB in th JOB-DRIVEN TRAINING: PREPARING APPRENTICES FOR THE FUTURE Here at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), helping students achieve their dreams is what we do. As you’ve read this magazine before, you’ve seen countless stories about students realizing their potential or landing their ideal job. What may come as a surprise are the many ways in which we help students reach those goals. For some it’s through our transferrable Associate’s Degrees, others find success in our hands-on career and technical programs, and then, there is another group of students - those preparing for the future through Registered Apprenticeship Programs provided by local employers.
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This third group, more than 100 students to be exact, is the direct result of partnerships with dozens of companies who ask EICC to provide additional coursework and training for their apprenticeship programs. The companies take care of the on-the-job training while EICC develops courses based on each employer’s needs. It’s important work we’re proud to be a part of and a relationship that benefits both apprentices and their employer. Take Kyle Long for example, after dropping out of high school, getting his GED and securing a full-time job, he thought his chance at postsecondary education had passed. However, when he started working as a machinist at SMS in Muscatine he was surprised to learn there was another way forward, apprenticeship. “Honestly, once I got a full-time job I thought school was out of the question,” Long said. “With my job and two kids I just assumed I’d be
working in a shop for the rest of my life and not be able or have the chance to go back to further my education.” Thanks to his company’s Registered Apprenticeship Program, Long was able to complete a four-year apprenticeship and move up the ranks to Team Leader, filling his company’s need for skilled workers. “It’s taxing on the employer to try and educate employees on the job constantly like that,” Long said. “So it was nice to leave work and go to Scott Community College’s Blong Technology Center which is tailored for training and education. “I still run a machine, but I’m also in charge of scheduling, making sure people stay on task, and dealing with any issues within the machine shop or fabrication area,” he said. “It’s given me a lot more responsibility and that’s what I like about it.”
