Award Abstract # 1002968
Capital Region Area Information Technology Apprenticeship

NSF Org: DUE
Division Of Undergraduate Education
Recipient: LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Initial Amendment Date: July 7, 2010
Latest Amendment Date: July 15, 2011
Award Number: 1002968
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Jane Prey
DUE
 Division Of Undergraduate Education
EHR
 Direct For Education and Human Resources
Start Date: July 1, 2010
End Date: June 30, 2013 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $218,294.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $218,294.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2010 = $218,294.00
History of Investigator:
  • Eduardo Suniga (Principal Investigator)
    sunigae@lcc.edu
  • George Berghorn (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Richard Scott (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Judith Berry (Former Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Lansing Community College
300 N Washington Sq
Lansing
MI  US  48933-0000
(517)483-1765
Sponsor Congressional District: 08
Primary Place of Performance: Lansing Community College
300 N Washington Sq
Lansing
MI  US  48933-0000
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
08
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Advanced Tech Education Prog
Primary Program Source: 0410 NSF Education & Human Resource
Program Reference Code(s): 1032, 9178, SMET
Program Element Code(s): 741200
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.076

ABSTRACT

This project is continuing a successful IT apprenticeship program that provides students the opportunity to receive industry-based technical experiences while earning an associate's degree. This activity helps meet the urgent need of local employers for the emerging digital economy. The program includes an online course for employment readiness, communication skills and job search skills. A key component of the program is a full-time apprenticeship coach whose responsibility is to prepare students for work, monitor student progress and to encourage local employers to hire displaced workers.

Goals of the project include partnering with local industry to increase the number of available positions and to place an increasing number of students with a particular emphasis on women, minorities and displaced workers. Mentoring and marketing strategies are being assessed and results will be disseminated to allow other organizations to implement a similar program.

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

The Capital Region Area Information Technology Apprenticeship project has significantly serviced the Lansing, Michigan community and has been a valuable resource for Lansing Community College.  This grant has provided IT students with job opportunities by creating a structured education and training apprenticeship track where none existed prior. This grant came at a time when the auto industry was down in Michigan and created opportunities for those new to IT to achieve a richer long-term IT education experience while also creating stronger job placement opportunities after graduation. This project addressed issues effectively to create a stronger, self-sustaining apprenticeship model while raising the education level in the region to better satisfy the Capital Region Area achieving a highly skilled workforce for the information and digital economy. The Capital Region Area Information Technology Apprenticeship project provided IT students with a Department of Labor registered apprenticeship opportunity that gave them practical experience which better prepared them for transitioning from school to work. 

The program placed 152 students in apprenticeship positions. Of the 152, 69 have completed their apprenticeships and received a Department of Labor certificate, while the remaining 83 continue to be enrolled in the program. The program developed strong relationships with external programs that focused on minority recruitment and retention in STEM areas. These partnerships contributed to a 26% female and a 24% minority participation rate further impacting the regions presence of women and minorities in IT. There were 80 companies involved in the project providing the apprenticeship activities. This increased the number of workplace openings for students by 30% each semester over 4 years. Surveys attained indicate a 98% employer satisfaction rating of the program, while student participants satisfaction was at 97%. The program was fully funded by the end of the grant period. Information about The Capital Region Area Information Technology Apprenticeship project can be found at www.lcc.edu/cit/itapprenticeship.


Last Modified: 10/28/2013
Modified by: Eduardo Suniga

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.

Print this page

Back to Top of page