Southern Illinois University-Carbondale WED
468-3
Department of Workforce Education & Development
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from the educational community is also included on the JAC. In some states,
such programs must be approved by and registered with the state government
(labor department) to be considered bona fide apprenticeship programs.
Apprenticeship training consists of two components: (1) on-the-job
training, and (2) related classroom instruction (minimum of 144 hours per year).
More and more, JACs are engaging in cooperative ventures with postsecondary
institutions for the provision of apprenticeship training, retraining and upgrading,
and labor studies. In these cases, the postsecondary institution develops the
programs at the request of, and with the approval of, the joint labor/management
committee.
Help in setting up these programs is usually readily available from the
state-level Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. In some cases,
apprenticeship credit is being offered through programs at the secondary level.
It is important that educators "do their homework" before seeking such
alliances. Knowledge of the various types of apprenticeships, e.g., construction
vs. industrial-corporation based, and knowledge of the specific concerns of
apprentice trainers in the immediate geographic area are essential if joint efforts
are to become a reality.
Military
If there is a military installation in your geographic area, contacts should
also be made. New recruits require training. Civilian personnel often need
retraining. Military defense preparedness is a top priority, especially since
September 11, 2001. A large portion of the defense budget is spent on
personnel, and those personnel must be trained.
The military system has much experience in providing training, but local
installations may be willing to draw upon your resources to meet specific training
needs. Similarly, military reserve units and National Guard units provide