Alamo Area Academies

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Alamo Area Academies Association of
Community College Trustees Congress October 9,
2009 Gene Bowman, Director, Alamo Area
Academies _at_ Association of Community College
Trustees Congress, San Francisco, California,
obowman_at_alamo.edu, www.alamo.edu/academies
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Table of Contents

• Why Created
• Desired Results
• Alamo Area Academies Partners
• How We Function
• How We Are Doing
• What You Should Know as a Trustee About This
  Model
• Meeting Community Needs
• How To Get Started
• Lessons Learned
• Our Industry Partners

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Why Created

• Lack of Pipeline for Growth Industries
• Fill Gaps in Community Need for High-Paying Jobs
• Transform Local Economy Dominated by Industries
  Emphasizing
• High-skills
• Well-paid employment
• Increase Opportunities for Young People
• Have rewarding, well-paid professional careers
• Remain in the community

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Desired Results

• Academies Provide Talent Pipeline that Industries
  Need to Thrive
• Preparing Students for Higher Education
• Through Industry-Driven Dual-Credit Programs
• Preparing Students for Skilled Employment in the
  Participating Industries
• Graduates are College Proven and Job-Ready!

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Alamo Area Academies Partners

• The Alamo Colleges
• Numerous Industry Partners
• All Local Independent School Districts, Charter,
  Private
• Multiple Cities San Antonio, New Braunfels,
  Seguin, Floresville
• Several Chambers of Commerce
• Local Universities
• Many More Partners

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How We Function

• High School Juniors and Seniors Region-Wide
• Students Enrolled in Their Home High School
• 2½ Hours at an Academy Each Day
• Industry-Driven Curriculum Developing Work Ready
  Skills
• Dual Credit
• 24-35 college credit hours
• No personal cost to student or parents
• Industry Paid Internships
• Graduate to a Job, Further Education, or Both
• Proven ability to be successful in a college
  program
• Pathway to career and beyond

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How We Are Doing

• 503 Graduates
• 95 continued higher education (community
  college/4-year institution) or
• Obtained jobs within aerospace/manufacturing
  industries or joined military
• Graduates proud of their skills and earning good
  wages
• Last 3 graduating classes 550,000 in
  scholarships
• Employers Satisfied
• They prefer someone with proven skills
• They are willing to invest in that type of
  employee
• Student Success Stories (Annette, Daniel, Amanda)

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What You Should Know as a Trustee About This Model

• Workforce Development
• Is core mission for community colleges and
• A strategic goal for the Alamo Colleges
• It Is Not Easy -- You Need Great Partners!!!
• Good partners means you can leverage funding and
  support
• Financial Issues
• Costs -- tuition and fees waived
• Contact hour reimbursement two years later
• Recruiting Pipeline

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Meeting Community Needs

• Meet Community Economic Development Opportunities
• Career Pathways
• For New Demand/Emerging Occupations
• Nurses new Health Professions Academy this fall
  
• Construction
• Business Finance
• Academies cover 80 of the Demand/Growth
  Industries For Our Community
• You Can Adjust to Your Community Needs

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How To Get Started

• Identify Partners Get Consensus on Need
• Identify Target Industries
• High-wage jobs
• Need for workforce pipeline
• Willingness to invest in it
• Develop Curriculum With Industry to Meet Need
• Identify Stakeholders and Resources to Cover
  Costs
• Prepare MOU Highlighting Roles and
  Responsibilities

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Lessons Learned

• Need Leadership and Commitment
• Keep Stakeholders Involved and Informed
• Networking and Communicating
• Outstanding Staff
• Persistence and Patience

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Over 70 Industry Partners
Lockheed Martin Boeing Chromalloy 433rd Airlift
Wing 12th Flying Training Wing Pratt and
Whitney Cessna UTSA Frost Bank Kinetic Concepts
Inc. HEB San Antonio Aerospace Danbury
Aerospace ITM Cox Manufacturing ATT Pressure
Systems Int. KLN Steel Engine Components Texas
Machining SW Business Corp. Southwest Research
Inst. Star Manufacturing Rackspace Etc.