Lake Region Community College Foundation
Report date
February 2020
What has been most instrumental to your progress?
Identification of the knowledge and skills needed for three separate competency areas utilized in the information technology industry: 1) Network/transporting of data/information, 2) Database/system administration and cloud-computing, and 3) Software development or programming for cybersecurity. Revised curriculum within the current LRSC 2-year Information Technology associate degree includes a 1-year academic certification and different tracks to accommodate specific workforce skills and competencies in current workplaces. Curriculum revision is the baseline for related technical instruction (RTI) within the LRSC Earn and Learn registered apprenticeship program. LRSC and the North Dakota Information Technology Department (NDITD) established a core competency checklist and aligned the revised curriculum with the competency checklist to ensure all key skills and competencies as defined by the United States Department of Labor Apprenticeship Office were met in the LRSC Dual Apprenticeship model. LRSC and North Dakota University System Core Technology Services (NDUS CTS) also collaborated with LRSC staff and reviewed curriculum and competencies for applicability.
LRSC initiated several collaborations in the first year:
First, a collaboration between the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) and staff with the career and technical education system in North Dakota developed career pathways. The student process for career learning experiences improved program alignment beginning in high school and was expanded to include internships, cooperative student experiences, and pre-apprenticeships. Each student opportunity involved in work-based learning advanced along the career pathway.
Secondly, LRSC collaborated with the ND Dept. of Commerce to define pre-apprenticeships to include high school internships, cooperative student experiences, dual-credits, and military experiences. LRSC administration and apprenticeship staff are active, state-level committee members with opportunities to speak at several educational and industry conferences. Pre-apprenticeship development required both NDITD and LRSC staff to work diligently to identify key job functions, skills, competencies, and the barriers within various steps along career pathway opportunities for both the student/potential apprentice and higher education.
First, a collaboration between the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) and staff with the career and technical education system in North Dakota developed career pathways. The student process for career learning experiences improved program alignment beginning in high school and was expanded to include internships, cooperative student experiences, and pre-apprenticeships. Each student opportunity involved in work-based learning advanced along the career pathway.
Secondly, LRSC collaborated with the ND Dept. of Commerce to define pre-apprenticeships to include high school internships, cooperative student experiences, dual-credits, and military experiences. LRSC administration and apprenticeship staff are active, state-level committee members with opportunities to speak at several educational and industry conferences. Pre-apprenticeship development required both NDITD and LRSC staff to work diligently to identify key job functions, skills, competencies, and the barriers within various steps along career pathway opportunities for both the student/potential apprentice and higher education.
LRSC staff collaborated with Job Service North Dakota and the North Dakota Department of Commerce to develop a state-wide process for apprentices and industry partners to access state and federal funding opportunities for tuition and scholarships, book expenses, and salary support. LRSC Student Services and Academic Affairs meet to discuss student entry, and enrollment into LRSC programs will flow to include contact with Job Service and financial aid. LRSC staff met with the ND Dept. of Commerce, several businesses, and NDITD, a state association of high-technology industry partners, to introduce apprenticeships in information technology which are now available in North Dakota through Lake Region State College. Marketing materials for both student and industry partners have been developed with online access to materials and staff at www.LRSC.edu.
Key lessons learned
The first lesson we learned was that significant time, energy, and money would be needed to develop and implement a comprehensive marketing plan and related materials to launch such a new concept in nontraditional careers. This would be considered a failure, understanding the steep learning curve for industry partners, especially.
Historically, apprenticeships were not available in “newer” careers such as information technology, energy technology, etc. At best, North Dakota has utilized internships, and academic environments have utilized cooperative student plans for work-based learning. The terms “pre-apprenticeships” and “apprenticeships” were difficult to explain (specifically how are they different from internships?). LRSC developed marketing materials (packets) for both students and potential industry partners. President Darling, distance education, and apprenticeship staff prepared and delivered presentations to small and large groups explaining the concept as a workforce solution. Face-to-face meetings, presentations, and printed materials were decidedly essential for the success of this initiative.
Historically, apprenticeships were not available in “newer” careers such as information technology, energy technology, etc. At best, North Dakota has utilized internships, and academic environments have utilized cooperative student plans for work-based learning. The terms “pre-apprenticeships” and “apprenticeships” were difficult to explain (specifically how are they different from internships?). LRSC developed marketing materials (packets) for both students and potential industry partners. President Darling, distance education, and apprenticeship staff prepared and delivered presentations to small and large groups explaining the concept as a workforce solution. Face-to-face meetings, presentations, and printed materials were decidedly essential for the success of this initiative.
The second lesson was the discovery that NDITD is utilizing a combination of different “work-arounds” for internal barriers federal or state agencies face, including employing long-term, temporary employees to stay within budget and allotted employee numbers. NDITD has numerous openings within the three areas identified for IT personnel; they do not wish to designate any open, permanent positions as apprenticeship positions which defeats the purpose and intent of the federally registered apprenticeship program.
LRSC staff, working through this Bush-funded innovation, has also been collaborating with another state agency, the North Dakota University System of higher education, specifically Core Technology Services (NDUS CTS). Working with NDITD has posed significant set-backs with failure to meet timelines and having signed agreements in place between the original (NDITD) collaborative partners and the United States Department of Labor Apprenticeship Office. However, we know one, if not both of the two state agencies will commit to hosting apprentices within their organizations.
LRSC staff, working through this Bush-funded innovation, has also been collaborating with another state agency, the North Dakota University System of higher education, specifically Core Technology Services (NDUS CTS). Working with NDITD has posed significant set-backs with failure to meet timelines and having signed agreements in place between the original (NDITD) collaborative partners and the United States Department of Labor Apprenticeship Office. However, we know one, if not both of the two state agencies will commit to hosting apprentices within their organizations.
Reflections on inclusive, collaborative or resourceful problem-solving
Collaboration. Even though LRSC and NDITD had committed to this initiative verbally before the grant application, several barriers were identified during the discovery process causing a significant impact to the budget and timeline.
First, underestimation of development and implementation of a marketing plan which defined and explained apprenticeships to both future apprentices and employer partners was monumental.
Second, LRSC was the first college in North Dakota to develop apprenticeships utilizing the dual model. A significant amount of research, trust, and open dialog built an apprenticeship model which is now standard for all apprenticeships at LRSC.
Third, collaboration of invested stakeholders across the state--academia, military, and private industry--has made North Dakota the national leader in cyber security.
First, underestimation of development and implementation of a marketing plan which defined and explained apprenticeships to both future apprentices and employer partners was monumental.
Second, LRSC was the first college in North Dakota to develop apprenticeships utilizing the dual model. A significant amount of research, trust, and open dialog built an apprenticeship model which is now standard for all apprenticeships at LRSC.
Third, collaboration of invested stakeholders across the state--academia, military, and private industry--has made North Dakota the national leader in cyber security.
If you could do it all over again...
One piece of advice would be to be prepared to recognize the significant differences between state agencies and private industry regarding human resources. A governmental organization, department, agency, etc. has a large amount of external influences, and the agency itself has minimal control, whereas the private industry has total control within its organization. It would have been much easier to develop and implement this initiative with a private industry partner. We were very lucky the timing of this grant took place during the ND legislative year. Had we begun the project one year later, we may have encountered much larger delays in the timeline.