ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw Community College (WCC) continues to lead the state and grow its advanced manufacturing technician apprenticeship program, adding new employers and student apprentices for the upcoming academic year.
The second annual “Signing Day” for the college’s next crop of student apprentices joining Michigan’s Mitten chapter of the Manufacturing Institute’s Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) is scheduled for Monday, June 17, on the WCC campus.
WCC is the only Michigan college in the national FAME work-and-learn program, which equips students with skills required for the rapidly evolving manufacturing industry.
The program offers paid on-the-job training and mentoring through industry partners and educational pathways to an associate degree in Mechatronics – Robotics and Automated Systems from WCC in under two years. Student apprentices interview with and are hired by participating advanced manufacturing industries located in the region.
Last year’s inaugural cohort of students is continuing through the 18-month program, balancing three work days with their company and full-time classes two days a week.
At the June 17 “Signing Day,” 10-12 new student apprentices are expected to sign their intent to participate in the program.
The ceremony will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Towsley Auditorium in the Morris Lawrence Building on the WCC campus, 4800 E. Huron River Drive. Members of industry, education, workforce development and prospective student apprentices interested in the program are welcome. Please RSVP to attend the FAME “Signing Day” event or email krue@wccnet.edu.
Four new employers joining the FAME Mitten Chapter this year are C&B Machinery, Flexible Metals, Sensitile and WestRock. Continuing employer partners are Toyota North America (Research & Development) Orbitform, Caster Concepts, Lomar Machine & Tool Company and Novi Precision.
Participants in the FAME program can be recent high school graduates, military members transitioning to the workforce, or individuals looking to move into a new career path.
The Michigan FAME Mitten chapter is administered by Ann Arbor SPARK, which manages fiscal and operational processes. Michigan Works! Southeast supports the recruitment efforts for both employers and students.
Southeast Michigan Community Alliance, Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) serves as the chapter’s hub and supports funding to the Mitten chapter, which is provided as part of a $5.8 million Apprenticeship Building America grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Employment and Training Administration.
ABOUT FAME & ‘SIGNING DAY’
- What: The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education offers paid on-the-job training and mentoring with industry partners and educational pathways to an associate degree in Mechatronics – Robotics and Automated Systems.
- Signing Day: New students will sign their intent to enroll at WCC and apprentice with their new employer.
- When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, June 17
- Where: Towsley Auditorium in the Morris Lawrence Building, WCC campus, 4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor
- RSVP: Please RSVP to attend.
- Phone & Email: 734-677-5117, krue@wccnet.edu
- More information: Learn more about the FAME Mitten chapter.
About Washtenaw Community College
Washtenaw Community College (WCC), Ann Arbor, Michigan, educates students through a wide range of associate and certificate programs in areas such as health care, business, STEM and advanced transportation and mobility. The college also works through community, business and union partnerships to develop highly specialized training programs to meet the region’s workforce talent needs.
About FAME
The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) network is comprised of employer-led chapters sponsoring students through a work/learn model over five semesters in conjunction with a college partner. The Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program, a FAME co-op, produces global-best, entry-level multiskilled maintenance technicians to excel in today’s advanced manufacturing environments. The FAME USA network is managed and supported by The Manufacturing Institute; learn more at FAME-USA.com.
