Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights Announce Apprenticeship Agreement
On Nov. 11, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters (MRCC) and Millwrights and Kalamazoo Valley Community College signed an innovative articulation agreement that provides college credit toward Kalamazoo Valley's welding certificates or the occupational technical studies associate of an applied science degree to apprentices who successfully complete journeyman certification training with the MRCC.
Kalamazoo Valley President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D. said, "Kalamazoo Valley works to ensure high academic quality and encourages student achievement. We have found a worthy partner in our shared commitment to this goal in the MRCC. We are pleased to provide this opportunity for apprentices who complete their journeyman certificate."
Statewide Training Director for the MRCC Tod Sandy said: "Partnering with Kalamazoo Valley just makes sense. Now carpenters and millwrights who train to our rigorous standards can have their hard work recognized when they pursue continued learning and certification programs with Kalamazoo Valley. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with a tremendous community partner like Kalamazoo Valley."
MRCC Executive Secretary-Treasurer Tom Lutz added: "Our apprenticeship program represents a gateway to a promising future for countless men and women willing to learn and work hard in a rewarding, good-paying career, and partnering with Kalamazoo Valley only adds to the opportunities available to our apprentices."
Highly trained skilled trades professionals are in high demand in Michigan, and experts anticipate the current shortage of such workers to continue well into the next decade. Skilled trades professionals such as carpenters and millwrights account for more than 500,000 jobs in Michigan. Every year, businesses need 47,000 workers to fill job openings in the skilled trades. Careers in skilled trades typically do not require a four-year-college degree and pay well above Michigan's median income. A carpenter or millwright apprentice earns around $60,000-80,000 a year, with benefits, health care and pension. A carpenter or millwright with five years' experience could earn $100,000+ a year on average, with benefits, health care and pension.
The MRCC represents more than 14,000 carpenters, floor layers, and millwrights across the state of Michigan. Members help build diverse projects, large and small, residential, commercial and industrial. Union millwrights work with precision machinery, installing and maintaining everything from conveyor systems to turbines and generators. With generational investments being made in infrastructure and private development, there has never been a better time to join the trades and help build the future of Michigan.Kalamazoo Valley Community College was established in 1966. It is a comprehensive, fully accredited, public, two-year college with enrollment of about 10,000 students. Kalamazoo Valley offers 50 certificate programs and associate degrees in 60 areas of study. In addition to associate degree and certificate programs in business, health care, human and public services, technical and industrial occupations, the college also provides a quality experience for students preparing to transfer to four-year institutions following graduation.