Arapahoe Community College (ACC), in partnership with the Community Association Institute Rocky Mountain Chapter (CAI-RMC), Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, and Skillful Colorado, is launching the nation’s first apprenticeship for the community association management profession.
In August, ACC will pilot a cohort of 15 apprentices. The two-year apprenticeship program will include paid work and up to 40 hours of weekly on-the-job training. Apprentices will earn two industry credentials and a stackable ACC certificate in Business Administration. Apprentices will graduate with little-to-no college debt and will be qualified to become a professional Community Association Manager in the industry.
“CAI is excited to partner with ACC to educate the next generation of community association managers,” says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAI’s chief executive officer. “We believe that community managers are the professional backbone of the communities they serve, providing the knowledge and expertise that are crucial to the successful management and operation of community associations. ACC’s new apprenticeship is another step to help us introduce our country’s workforce to the growing community management profession and industry.”
ACC is building on its successful apprenticeship programs that blend industry collaboration to shape competency-based online and in-person learning with on-the-job training and paid work. Community Association Management is a field that is expected to grow by 20% in the next several years and is in need of a talented workforce that can serve the emerging needs of their homeowners. Over 24% of American homes are in a community association, also known as a homeowners association (HOA), condominium community and housing cooperative.
“In this post-COVID economy where we’ve seen monumental job losses, ACC is even more determined to build on its work with our industry and community partners to co-create strong talent pipeline initiatives for our region,” said Dr. Eric Dunker, ACC Associate Vice President and Dean of Business, Technology and Workforce Partnerships. “We launched the new Sturm Collaboration Campus with the same focus of building pathways alongside industry, listening to our community, and responding with relevant and future-focused programming. Our partners are amazing collaborators and we are excited to launch this program with them in August.”
Skillful Colorado, an initiative from the Markle Foundation, partnered to provide tools and resources to assist ACC and Community Association industry partners in identifying the most important competencies which helped build a skills-based program that complements the on-the-job skills of a Community Association Manager.
“Particularly in a crisis environment, it is critical that educators are delivering the skills that employers need not just now, but in the future, and developing programs that connect individuals to successful careers,” stated Shannon Block, Skillful’s Executive Director. “I applaud the community management program at ACC for bringing together educators and employers to design programs with the employability of graduates at the forefront of their plan.”
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For additional information about workforce partnerships and the Sturm Collaboration Campus at Arapahoe Community College, please contact eric.dunker@arapahoe.edu.