CCRI Selected For National Initiative To Expand Apprenticeship Programs

Warwick, R.I. – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today proudly announced it was selected to participate in the national Scaling Apprenticeship at Community Colleges project.

Hosted by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), with support from Ascendium and implemented in partnership with New America and Job Forward, the nine-month initiative will provide CCRI with specialized resources, training, and technical assistance to further strengthen its registered apprenticeship programs.

As part of this competitive national cohort of ten institutions, CCRI will focus on developing sustainable registered apprenticeship programs in at least two non-traditional occupations. The initiative supports colleges in establishing the infrastructure needed to launch, finance, and sustain these pathways, while making employer partnerships a central priority for long-term growth.

"Registered apprenticeships are powerful pathways to connect education and workforce training to meaningful careers,” said CCRI President Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN. “Through our Office of Apprenticeships, we are committed to expanding opportunities for Rhode Island students while helping employers strengthen their workforce pipeline. We are honored to collaborate with community colleges from across the country as we continue advancing innovative apprenticeship and workforce strategies.”

Throughout the project, CCRI leadership will participate in virtual learning modules addressing everything from standards development and employer partnerships to sustainable financing. To support these planning and execution phases, CCRI has also been awarded a $15,000 grant.

The Scaling Apprenticeship initiative aims to equip colleges with the tools, processes, and partnerships needed to not only design their current programs but also expand into additional occupations in the future.