Table of Contents
Recommendations
For Policymakers
Create a last-dollar scholarship or tuition waiver policy.
Alabama has taken advantage of its state and the federal financial aid programs to cover most apprentice tuition costs. Having employers make up the shortfall is a clever way to support apprentices and ensure employer buy in, while limiting the school’s bill. Another way to address this problem is to waive apprentices’ tuition, with the state paying instead of the student. North Carolina does this, but only for youth apprentices.
Integrate apprenticeship models into funding formula.
Outcomes-based funding models tend to be focused on traditional, academic credentials. However, there is no reason that states focused on meeting their workforce needs can’t create bonuses for community colleges which enroll and graduate apprentices.
Change licensure requirements.
States control licensure. Particularly in health care, the prohibition on paying students for their work before they are licensed can be a big barrier for apprenticeship programs. Many colleges get around this prohibition by ensuring that their apprentices are already certified nursing assistants. This can be cumbersome, making students get a credential they do not necessarily need. The solution found in Alabama could serve as a model for other allied health occupations and in other states.
For Community Colleges
Understand the challenges.
Sometimes community colleges assume that creating apprenticeship programs will be simple, given their ability to connect to employers, provide training, and support students. This is not the case. Navigating this role and knowing when to stop building is sometimes easier said than done, particularly in fields that aren’t considered traditional in the apprenticeship sector, such as IT and cybersecurity. Having a realistic understanding of the challenges and a plan to address them will go a long way toward success.
Create a sustainable funding model.
Apprenticeship is labor-intensive and thus expensive. Ideally, apprentices do not pay any tuition, but this means colleges must figure out how to cover the cost of the program including staff salaries and tuition. Maybe this means creating the apprenticeship on the credit side to ensure that the college receives the state enrollment subsidy and the apprentice receives financial aid. Maybe it means using institutional funds to cover staffing. Maybe it means asking employer partners to help support staff and tuition costs. Whatever the model, colleges should strive to understand how their apprenticeships will be sustainable after any grant money expires.
Create flexible and sustainable systems for administration and data collection.
In many cases, community colleges serving as apprenticeship intermediaries must report data on apprentice skill development and program hours to the agency where they register. These data and other information can help colleges improve their programs and strengthen their return on investment proposition for employers.