M-TEC at Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers career academy programs that provide short-term, skills-based training to prepare students for high-demand jobs. Career academies involve hands-on training and real-world experience. Employers are involved in developing the programs to ensure the training meets industry needs. The document outlines the process for developing a career academy, which includes researching job growth areas, inviting employers to provide input, developing the curriculum, and evaluating outcomes. The first career academies at M-TEC included programs in automotive, welding, hospitality, animal technician, and wind turbine technician fields.

1. M-TEC at Kalamazoo Valley Community College Career Academies

2. What is the M-TEC at KVCC? M-TEC is an economic development initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) We are a business driven training provider that supports the learning and development needs of the local workforce. M-TEC assists companies in maintaining and/or growing their business through activities which support the availability of a highly skilled workforce.

3. Services M-TEC Provides Customized and non-customized training Business services to encourage networking and collaboration Grant writing assistance and support Non-credit skill building seminars and workshops Career Academies: training for employment

4. What are Career Academies? Career academies provide a short-term, skills-based, fast-track to employment. All academies provide hands-on training in laboratory as well as real-world experience in the industry. Each program has a competency-based curriculum supported by business and industry. Academies are aligned with nationally recognized certifications (when available) and provide the competencies or necessary national credentials necessary for employment. Each Career Academy is guided by employer needs and prepares students for high-demand jobs available today.

5. Career Academy Initiatives at M-TEC The first Career Academies: Automotive Academy Welding Academy Programs expanded in March 2008: Hospitality Academy Animal Technician Academy Wind Turbine Technician Academy Patient Care Academy

6. How do we develop a Career Academy? Research Identify areas of high-demand job growth Identify opportunities for workforce training and development Research jobs and industry employers Identify potential career paths in the industry

7. Career Academies 2. Invite Employers to Focus Group Discuss the employment outlook Employers must assure jobs are expected to exist in this area Identify potential employment demand for the next year Determine starting wages and career paths in the industry Identify why training is needed in this industry Current employees lack training resources Unable to hire new workers with needed skills Training exists but is not meeting demand Build a case for Academy-style job training Anticipated expansions in the industry High-demand, high-growth job opportunities exist Employers support the training

8. Career Academies 3. Develop an Industry Advisory Group Industry Advisory Groups are made up of area employers Employers provide input regarding curriculum, instructional methods, credentials required of the graduates, job skills needed for employment, and training facilities needed to effectively provide training for those skills. Employers also provide information about hiring requirements, which assist us in the development of our entrance criteria for students selected into the program Assist in student selection Employers are often involved on the interviewing committee, designed to selected the best students for the program based on hiring requirements for the industry and desire to work in the field. We select the best candidates for this intensive, hands-on, full-time style of training and those that are best suited for work in the industry.

9. In order to create a Career Academy: We must have employers’ assurances that jobs will exist in the identified industry or field. We must have employers’ commitments to stay involved in planning, development, instructor selection, and program advising. We must demonstrate adequate equipment, expertise, and facilities to create an effective hands-on training program.

10. Career Academies 4. Develop hands-on, full-time, skills-based training Formats vary based on training needs: Automotive Academy – 33 weeks 1 full-time instructor Welding Academy – 6 weeks 8 technical training professionals Hospitality Academy – 7 weeks 1 full-time instructor, on-site job shadowing, industry speakers

11. Career Academies Patient Care Academy – 10 weeks 1 full-time instructor, laboratory training, clinical experience Animal Technician Academy – 6 weeks 1 part-time instructor, 6 + industry training professionals, laboratory training Wind Turbine Technician Academy – 26 weeks 2 full-time instructors, industry speakers, laboratory training, field experience

12. Developing Career Academies All Academies include Employability Training: Job search skills Job application Resume development Workplace expectations Interviewing skills, practice interviews

13. Students of Career Academies Unemployed and/or underemployed Incumbent workers looking to make a career change or to improve their current job Students looking for a fast-track skills training to secure employment

14. Students of Career Academies Career Academies are NOT open entry Each student undergoes an intense selection process, which includes an application, reference checks, background checks (when required), math and/or reading assessment, interview, and a medical/physical assessment (when required). Applicants are screened for fit based on industry’s hiring requirements

15. Career Academy Outcomes 5. Evaluation of each Academy Each Academy is reviewed for success: Are graduates employed in their field at least 6 weeks post-graduation? Are graduates still employed 6 months post graduation? Did the skills and competencies transfer to the job? Are employers happy with the skill levels of our graduates? Are there areas for improvement?

16. Learn More…. For more information please contact our Career Academies office at 269-353-1289 Visit our website at www.kvcc.edu/training