Apply Today!
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), Center for Policy and Practice invites you to submit an application to participate in the Scaling Apprenticeship at Community Colleges project, launched with support from Ascendium, and in partnership with New America and Job Forward.
In follow-up to ACCT’s previous work on the role of community colleges in apprenticeship, this project will provide resources, training, and technical assistance for community colleges to become registered apprenticeship program sponsors. The framework and activities for the project will support the capacity-building work of community colleges to design and implement the processes and institutional infrastructure necessary to develop and maintain a successful apprenticeship program. Establishing, strengthening, and formalizing employer partnerships will be a strategic priority toward ensuring program sustainability.
Please review the project details and application below. The application deadline is Monday, July 21 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
- Informational webinar for potential applicants: June 30, 2025 REGISTER HERE!
- Deadline for colleges to complete application of interest: July 21, 2025 at COB Pacific Time
- Expected date for applicants to receive notification regarding cohort decisions: August 1, 2025
- Cohort launch/Training modules begin: August 2025
- First in-person convening in Washington, DC: November 6-7, 2025
Questions about this project may be directed to Dana Westgren ([email protected]).
Project Overview
ACCT and its partners will work with two cohorts of ten community colleges to develop sustainable registered apprenticeship programs for at least two non-traditional occupations (more information on this can be found in the application details). Over approximately nine months, teams from each community college will engage in virtual learning modules on such topics as:
- Framework, components, and policy environment of registered apprenticeship programs (RAP)
- Standards development for new RAPs
- Employer partnerships
- Program administration
- Curriculum, competencies, and related technical instruction (RTI) development
- Recruiting, onboarding, and supporting apprentices
- Trustee engagement
- Sustainable financing
Each cohort will leverage process planning guides to help facilitate internal planning sessions and also participate in topic-specific peer learning community sessions, where they will have the opportunity to discuss challenges and solutions. ACCT will also work closely with college trustees to provide pertinent information on RAPs and share insights about how trustees can play a valuable role in the success of their college’s RAP program. Further, two members of the college’s project team will attend two in-person convenings. The first, in November 2025, will be an introductory and planning session. The second will serve as a working session for final apprenticeship standards application and project assessment. To support participation, colleges will receive a $15,000 stipend if accepted into the cohort.
At the end of the project, colleges will have the tools necessary to design and implement the components of a scalable, sustainable registered apprenticeship program, with an emphasis on business engagement. Colleges will also come away with processes to onboard future apprenticeship programs in additional occupations and sustain these programs.
Process to Apply
- Learn about the project goals: Please review the ACCT Scaling Apprenticeship at Community Colleges homepage for more project details. For more information on the role community colleges can play in developing and sustaining apprenticeship programs, review ACCT’s white paper Innovating Workforce Education: Community Colleges at the Forefront of Registered Apprenticeship.
- Identify occupations and business partners: At the end of the 4-year project, member colleges will have launched one successful non-traditional apprenticeship program wherein the college serves as the sponsor. The college will also be in the process of launching at least one apprenticeship program for a second occupation. As such, at the time of application, all members of the cohort will have at least one existing, strong relationship with an employer who is prepared to partner on this apprenticeship project.
- Identify your team: Selected colleges should convene a project team that includes, at least:
- A member of the academic/program office overseeing the instructional components for the occupation of focus;
- A decision-level administrator (this is often the Dean of Workforce);
- A representative of the admissions and/or financial aid office;
- A member of the business or advancement office who focuses on business relationships; and
- A representative of the IT or record keeping office who works with student data.
You do not have to provide the final list of each team member in this application, but please indicate that you have identified potential representatives and began discussions about this work.
- Submit your application: Review and submit the application of interest at the link below The primary selection criteria for the cohort will be:
- The strength of existing relationships between businesses and the college;
- Clear identification of non-traditional occupations for development; and
- The college’s dedication to sustainable, centralized apprenticeship programming.