AACC recommends that executives prepare a compelling, data-driven case to gain faculty support for electric vehicle Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). This case should focus on the impact on industry partners, the institution, students, and faculty, including the programs they oversee.
Engaging Faculty for Success
The success of any college initiative, including RAPs, depends on several critical components, with fully engaged faculty being the most essential. Administrative support and the active involvement of departments such as admissions and marketing are also crucial. AACC has found that presenting a clear, evidence-based argument demonstrating the benefits of RAPs can effectively build faculty engagement.
The Industry Impact
AACC has found data-driven arguments are particularly effective in illustrating how RAPs benefit industry partners. Key data points may include labor market information (LMI), employment projections, wage and salary statistics, regional economic trends, and sector strategies. Framing this data to showcase RAPs’ positive impact on the community’s economic well-being, employer success and growth, workforce pipeline development, and overall economic stability will help convey the program’s value.
The Institutional Impact
Executives must address how RAPs will affect the college’s operations, including enrollment, revenue, expenses, facilities, and faculty workloads. Budgetary considerations are particularly important, and a comprehensive asset assessment can help executives provide accurate answers to these questions. The impact of RAPs will vary depending on the college’s role as a sponsor, intermediary, or RTI provider.
If new electric vehicle programs require additional funding or capital investments, executives should present realistic projections of associated costs and the economic benefits. For instance, providing data on how increased enrollments in a program might affect scheduling, lab utilization, and revenue while identifying potential expenses will strengthen the case. Clear communication of these impacts ensures transparency and builds confidence in the program’s feasibility
The Student Impact
To engage faculty, executives should emphasize the direct benefits to students. RAPs offer workforce and economic development opportunities, including pathways to employment in high-demand sectors of the electric vehicle industry. Data showing favorable employment projections, a need for skilled workers, and strong employer commitments can help demonstrate the program’s relevance.
Executives should also highlight that RAPs offer students paid, on-the-job training, enabling them to graduate with minimal or no debt, secure employment, and earn national credentials and academic degrees, identifying specific employers within the pipeline who have outstanding and/or projected workforce needs, and for whom registered apprenticeship is an attractive option. At a minimum, the executive will want to be able to identify specific commitments from those employers. Collaboration with local workforce boards and economic development organizations can further underscore RAPs’ community-wide benefits, enhancing opportunities for students.
Engaging Faculty in the Planning Process
AACC encourages executives to actively engage faculty throughout the planning process. Hosting listening sessions to discuss faculty concerns and proactively involving them in program development fosters a sense of ownership. Providing clear plans for faculty training to adapt to new teaching models that support RAPs in the EV industry demonstrates institutional commitment to faculty success.
Executives should also emphasize the opportunities RAPs provide for faculty, such as:
- Building partnerships with employers
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Curriculum development and potential access to employer-funded materials and equipment
- Additional program funding
Highlighting these benefits can help faculty see the broader value of RAPs, not only for their students but for their programs and professional growth. Additionally, RAPs’ ability to increase student completion rates and create clear career pathways aligns with faculty goals of supporting student success.
Clear and Compelling Leadership
AACC believes that effective leadership is essential for articulating the case for RAPs. Executives must clearly communicate the benefits these programs will bring to the college, its students, and the broader community. Faculty support is fundamental to realizing these benefits, making their engagement a top priority in the planning and implementation process.
Other Resources
- Guided Pathways Demystified: Exploring Ten Commonly Asked Questions about Implementing Pathways (National Center for Inquiry & Improvement)
- Competency-Based and Hybrid Instruction: Two Alternative Approaches to Time-Based Registered Apprenticeships (Jobs for the Future)
- Training Tomorrow’s Workforce: Community College and Apprenticeship as Collaborative Routes to Rewarding Careers (Center for American Progress)