Community College (CONT’D FROM PAGE 14)
dents could interview for and do paid work at a local ad- vanced manufacturing employer for three days a week. And while there was no guarantee, “it was the intention of both the company and the college for that student to then be employed with that company at the end of that apprenticeship,” said McLemore, who now serves as the vice president of the Office of Talent Strategy at Columbus State Community College. At worst, the student walked away with a network, real-life experience and skills tested in a live manufacturing environment. Community colleges also offer something that many ap- prenticeships do not: following their coursework, students have the flexibility to move away from manufacturing. “Some of these students are going to be transfer stu- dents that go on for a four-year degree. The others are go- ing to go directly into industry either with their associate’s degree or noncredit learning and completion certificate,” said McLemore, referring to the noncredit bearing course- work that manufacturing training is usually categorized under. According to a Rutgers report, community colleges are “filling knowledge and coordination gaps among local manufacturers and acting as ‘innovation brokers’ by link- ing their programs to the needs of local employers.” “Faculty are able to work with employers, because that is the sole mission of community colleges. They don’t have to balance research with teaching. They just do the teach- ing,” said Jyotishi, while acknowledging that community colleges are not a monolith. There’s also the fact that the “noncredit” nature of many manufacturing programs allows “faster time to program creation.” While credit-bearing programs have to move through faculty senates and the accreditation process, their “noncredit” counterparts allow colleges to quickly meet the customized training needs of manufacturers, Jy- otishi said. The Community College Manufacturing Pipeline In the United States, people seeking a manufacturing ca- reer have “too many options” when it comes to certifica- tions and credentials, Jyotishi said. According to Credential Engine, there are more than 1 million unique credentials available in the U.S. across sectors including IT, healthcare, manufacturing and more. This, coupled with the fact that not enough data exists on which certifications lead to better employment outcomes, means students must often make difficult choices with lit- tle guarantee of results. “In other countries, there’s much more sophisticated mechanisms to curate pathways into jobs. For us, it’s the wild west,” Jyotishi said. Manufacturers can help develop a skilled workforce by teaming up with their local community college on course- work development, or even offering a work-based learn- ing arrangement that benefits both the student and the manufacturing business.
Suppliers Leverage Our Reach!
Board Converting News is read by more independent AND integrated decision-makers than any other industry publication. Advertise in BCN in print and/or online to leverage our expansive reach!
Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
16 January 5, 2026
www.boardconvertingnews.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs