RAMP Career Pathways Grant Project Report

Names and Title of Key Staff: Vernon Daugherty - Dean, Engineering and Applied Technology Cindy Messer - Director, Workforce Continuing Education (formerly RAMP Coordinator) Abigail Hickman - RAMP Coordinator Debra Cromwell – Coordinator, Work-Based Learning

Key Business Partners: Advanced Superabrasives Atlas Precision Appalachian Tool & Machine, Inc. AVL Technology Baldor Eaton Electrical Group GE Aviation Jacob Holm Industries Kearfott Corporation Linamar PECO Peerless Blowers Printpack, Inc. Silver-Line Plastics TE Connectivity

Progress made toward employer engagement: RAMP hosted 5 presentations to industries, attended 15 manufacturing tours. In addition RAMP participated in 4 high school career days. RAMP had a presence at the AB Tech Manufacturing days two years running and AB Tech Career Day and open house. Manufacturers have become more willing to open their doors for student and faculty tours.

What worked well: a. Building a strong relationship with the manufacturers early in the grant helped RAMP to coordinate tours, visits and parent meeting with the industry leaders. b. Creating a manufacturing tour calendar that spanned 3 weeks and provided parents with choices between 8 manufacturers to visit and tour. This strategy allowed for students and parents to meet with employers outside of their school districts. c. Growth of manufacturers participating in work-based learning strengthened relationships. d. The Economic Developers with NC Commerce and the Madison and Buncombe County Chambers are aware of RAMP and have attended RAMP meetings and events.

Barriers: a. Many manufacturers will not or cannot allow minors to work within their facilities either through employment or an apprenticeship/ internship. For students who are eligible for enrollment through College and Career Promise, many of the students were too young to qualify for any employment or work-based learning opportunities within the participating manufacturers. b. Because of individual business demands, it is very challenging to set up meetings with manufacturers as a group.

9-14 Programs of Study: Six pathways were developed: Computer-Aided Drafting Certificate Computer-Integrated Machining Certificate Mechanical Engineering Technology AAS Welding Certificate (two separate pathways, one for Madison HS and one for North Buncombe HS) Manufacturing and Maintenance Engineering Certificate (all credits can be applied towards either mechanical Engineering or Industrial Systems)

Career Advising: In June of 2015 and 2016, an approximate total of 40 high school teachers and counselors have (or will have) completed a two day professional development training event which will increase their awareness of the opportunities in manufacturing. In addition to learning about specific programs, there was also interaction with a panel of manufacturing employees and tours of two local manufacturing facilities. Multiple visits were made to high school CTE classes and high school CTE students had a number of opportunities to tour AB Tech facilities and manufacturing plants. These visits have seemed to be the most effective activity so far in raising awareness of manufacturing careers for high school aged students, especially those where parents were involved with tours at manufacturing sites.

Career Advising (Continued): RAMP’s influence in the schools will continue to resonate through the increased enrollment in CTE articulated credit courses for manufacturing at the high school level. The table above shows the number of students contacted as well as those who applied for advanced manufacturing career clusters. These students will work with their CTEs and classroom instructors to continue their education and training in advanced manufacturing. RAMP presented 52 classroom presentations. These presentations were key in educating, informing and recruiting students to the AM career pathway. Additionally, there has been a RAMP Scholarship established, with the first expected to be awarded in Fall 2017.

Work-Based Learning: The college is fortunate that because of previous participation in a Dept. of Labor grant, we already had a manufacturing focused Work-Based learning program in place. During the period of this grant, we have been able to grow our program. We currently have 38 partners we work with to place students. We are regularly having new employers contact us to participate.

Work-Based Learning (Continued): Placement numbers to date (as of late April): 83 internships (with an additional 8 pending submissions) 114 job placements/assists (with an additional 12 pending submissions) 4 co-ops (WBL) 8 pre-apprenticeships 4 apprenticeships

Work-Based Learning (Continued): On the Job Training/Apprentices: Three RAMP Advanced Manufacturers have offered the grant candidates OJT/Apprenticeships 1. Advanced Super Abrasives Inc. (ASI): 3 Summer interns 2. Linamar: 1 intern 3. Peerless Blowers: 1 Summer intern

Continuation Plans: The college will continue to support the Work-Based Learning Coordinator position at the present time. The RAMP leadership is reviewing options (including funding) for continuing all or some of the work which had been done by the RAMP Coordinator position.

Lessons Learned: A schedule of events must be created with the outcomes and initiatives informing the plans and strategies. The manufacturers must offer leadership to maintain the pipelines developed between the students/community and their industries. The RAMP coordinator must work as a facilitator between the various business partners, economic development, MAWB and the educational institutions. The manufacturers must take on a more present and decisive leadership role advanced manufacturing continues to expand and require a talented workforce. There needs to be a single agency charged with oversight for development and implementation of Career Pathways, possibly the local Workforce Development Boards.

Activities Summary: The RAMP Grant provided 8 local high schools, at-risk youth, AB Tech continuing educational students and parents an awareness of the advanced manufacturing career pathways. It built relationships with the industry leaders and school CTEs and instructors. Through industry tours, career days, in-class presentations and AB Tech sponsored events, RAMP educated and influenced over 1,600 individuals within its lifespan.