BASF, TCTC Celebrate Second Cohort of Apprentices

Representatives from TCTC and BASF gathered at the Oconee Campus February 28 to celebrate the second cohort of completers of the educational component of the BASF North American Apprenticeship Development Program (NAADP).

Seven individuals received certificates after completing the 12-month apprenticeship program that pays apprentices a full-time wage and full benefits to participate in on-the-job training at BASF’s Seneca facility while earning a certificate in Process Technology from TCTC. At the end of the program, apprentices have the skills and credentials to be placed in permanent positions at BASF’s Seneca site.

The third cohort began on December 8, 2022, and the fourth will start in July 2023.

Jim Kilton, BASF continuous improvement manager, urged graduates “to be ambassadors for the third cohort and to celebrate your future career at BASF.”

Kumar Sugavaram, BASF vice president of global precious metals refining and chemicals, added, “This is a great achievement and you should be proud. You are coming in as changemakers. You are now part of the BASF family. Welcome!”

In June of 2021, TCTC joined with global chemical corporation BASF’s Seneca plant, Apprenticeship Carolina and other community partners to launch an innovative partnership to develop and implement a Process Technology Apprenticeship program. Developed under the BASF NAADP framework, the apprenticeship is designed to address the company’s needs and priorities by creating a workforce pipeline of diverse, well-trained process operations technicians.

TCTC’s Integrated Workforce Solutions (IWS) team worked with BASF managers and apprenticeship coordinators to design a robust, unique version of the typical apprentice classroom. The instructional component of the BASF program was created as an intensive learning experience that builds and reinforces both technical and productivity (work) skills needed for a successful career at BASF.

By the end of the apprenticeship program, students can receive three certificates of completion from the U. S. Department of Labor, TCTC’s Corporate and Community Education Division, and OSHA-10 General Industry Standards.

Based on experience with Cohort 1, BASF apprenticeship managers and the IWS team created a “classroom instruction action plan” using feedback from apprentices, company/apprenticeship managers, and the classroom instructor. The plan resulted in numerous enhancements that have made the program more effective—and ultimately more innovative than what might otherwise be found in typical apprenticeship programs.

Elba Lizardi, BASF Seneca site director, said the program aims to meet future talent needs for a skilled and diverse technician workforce with an emphasis on attracting more females to these roles. “Our company wants to grow in diversity and inclusion at this site and globally. We met our goal for 22-24% female leadership two years before our 2021 goal in 2019, so we set a new goal of 30% female leadership by 2030, and this program helps us make progress on achieving that goal,” she said.

President’s List Recipients for Fall Celebrated

President DeHay, front, center, hosted a cocoa and cookies social on February 22 for students named to the President’s List for fall 2022. To be eligible for the President’s List, a student must be classified as a degree, diploma, or certificateseeking student; earn at least 12 credit hours in courses numbered 100 or above; attain a GPA of 4.00; cannot earn an “F,” “WF,” or “U” grade for courses numbered 100 or below, Math 150 or English 150.