College will work with local businesses to train employees for well-paying tech careers.
Front Range Community College plans to increase its apprenticeship offerings by expanding into the high-demand information technology, networking and cybersecurity fields, using grant funding from the US Department of Labor.
“Almost every business and government agency employs technology professionals,” said FRCC’s Dean of Academic Services Matt Jamison. “Apprenticeships are a great way for employers to fill those important positions with highly-trained workers.”
Industry Partnerships
The college plans to work closely with local companies to design new apprenticeship programs in order to teach the skills that professionals in technology need. FRCC’s aim is to help businesses develop their own talent pipeline by providing new workers with the right IT and cybersecurity training to hit the ground running.
Earn While You Learn
Apprenticeships give students a chance to get paid while they learn—which puts them on a fast, clear path to well-paying tech careers. “Apprentices get to work in a real-life setting, getting hands-on training while also acquiring critical knowledge in the classroom,” added Jamison. “Students will come out of our programs with the right skills to immediately get to work in these high-demand fields.”
More Than Just Tech Companies
FRCC is looking to partner with area businesses—and not just in the IT sector. “There’s a lot of potential to collaborate with any organization that uses technology tools in its work and needs good IT professionals,” said Jamison. “Apprenticeships provide great employment opportunities for Coloradans, especially those looking to switch careers, re-skill or upskill.”
Plentiful Jobs
FRCC plans to target in-demand occupations with particular emphasis on the following IT positions:
- Computer user support specialists
- Computer programmers (coding)
- Computer network support specialists
- Cybersecurity specialists and technicians
- Web developers
- Database administrators
- And more…
Next Steps
FRCC will work closely with interested local employers to develop the curricula for—and create—new apprenticeship programs for these target occupations, as well as expanding the college’s existing apprenticeship programs.
The college will then work with industry to recruit participants in these paid apprenticeships—and continue to build new employer partnerships across Colorado, increasing the number of businesses that hire technology apprentices.
To learn more about how your company can leverage apprenticeships to create a talent pipeline in technology fields, please contact FRCC’s CO-TECH Apprenticeship Program Manager Lori Dulberg at lori.dulberg@frontrange.edu or visit: www.frontrange.edu/apprenticeships.
The funding for FRCC’s effort comes from the Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship: Closing the Skills Gap grant program. The Colorado Community College System was awarded approximately $2 million, and FRCC will receive approximately $250,000 as a sub-grant to fund its new apprenticeship efforts.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, Brighton, and online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving 138,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities.
