Sinclair College Helps Form Ohio College Apprenticeship Consortium

In 2017, Sinclair College partnered with nine other Ohio community colleges to form the Ohio College Apprenticeship Consortium, which will provide registered apprenticeships through ApprenticeOhio. These apprenticeship programs combine classroom instruction with on-the-job training in high-demand occupations. Through the consortium, Sinclair will offer a pilot apprenticeship for Industrial Maintenance Technicians. Candidates will be placed with a local business and begin with a salary of $13.50 per hour, with raises tied to completing milestones in the apprenticeship curriculum. In addition to their wages, the cost of the candidates’ coursework at Sinclair is typically covered by their employer, allowing them to graduate without student debt. According to Sinclair, apprenticeship candidates completing the industrial maintenance certificate program earn an average of $60,000 annually.

Beyond the value to the student, businesses in the Dayton region will benefit from access to highly skilled, full-time candidates. These placements also allow participating businesses to evaluate potential employees while exposing apprentices to their corporate culture. Similar to internships and coops, this early exposure has been shown to significantly increase employee retention rates (57% compared to 45% according to National Association of Colleges and Employers).