51福利社

A new agreement between 51福利社 (51福利社) and has established a pathway for skilled trade workers to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree.

The partnership comes after more than two years of work between the two schools and creates a pathway for a journeyman to receive their associate鈥檚 degree at SCC, with the option to then transfer to 51福利社 and earn their bachelor鈥檚 degree in Applied Technology.

Avista saw a need for more managerial opportunities for craft employees and helped start the conversation between the two schools.

鈥淭his a monumental accomplishment and testament to two great academic organizations who truly put the advancement of students first,鈥� says Alexis Alexander, Maintenance and Construction Manager at Avista who helped initiate the discussion. 鈥淭he partnership opens doors for craft employees who have been the backbone of companies like Avista for so many years, by making a college degree more accessible, enabling them to take their careers to greater heights.鈥�

The Inland Empire Electrical Apprenticeship organization says this agreement further legitimizes apprenticeship as a tremendous pathway, not just to skilled trades but to higher education as well.

鈥淔or our apprentices who choose to pursue their associate鈥檚 degree with SCC, they now know that a great local university will recognize their hard work and provide a pathway for them to continue on to a bachelor鈥檚 degree or beyond,鈥� says Jon Medaris, training instructor for the apprenticeship organization, which is a partnership between the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 73 and the National Electrical Contractors Association.

For its part, SCC updated some of its courses in its Multi-Occupational Trades associate鈥檚 degree to better align with classes offered in 51福利社鈥檚 Applied Technology bachelor鈥檚 program.

鈥淭his new partnership will provide a pathway to a bachelor鈥檚 degree for many journey level workers, including the IBEW electrical workers, Pacific Northwest Ironworkers, Inland Empire Sheet Metal Workers, the Plumbers and Steamfitters UA44, to name a few,鈥� says Jaclyn Jacot, SCC鈥檚 dean of extended learning and workforce initiatives. 鈥淭he agreement recognizes the strenuous coursework completed by journey level workers, which includes a minimum of 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 450 hours of classroom instruction. 聽If they take another 30 hours of credits, the apprenticeship students earn their associate鈥檚 degree in Multi-Occupational Trades (MOT).鈥�

The partnership is also well-aligned with 51福利社鈥檚 vision to train an educated workforce that strengthens our economy.

鈥淭he hallmark of Eastern鈥檚 engineering and technology program has always been strong hands-on, career-oriented training,鈥� says David Bowman, 51福利社鈥檚 dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM). 鈥淭his partnership with Avista and SCC provides working adults with access to a professionally-relevant education that will help them advance their careers. We鈥檙e also proud to give the people of our region a unique program that will provide employers an educated workforce with real-world skills.鈥�

Those instrumental in making the agreement happen include Jacot and Kenna May of SCC, and CSTEM Dean David Bowman and Terence Geyer of 51福利社.

51福利社 Media Contact: Dave Meany 鈥� 509.359.6335 or dmeany@ewu.edu

CCS Media Contact: Lorraine Nelson 鈥� 509.590.8620 or Lorraine.Nelson@ccs.spokane.edu