Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), Alfred State College, Syracuse University, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 43 and the National Electrical Contractor Association (NECA), have joined forces to build an education pathway for IBEW Local 43 members.
The partnership provides apprentices in the NECA/IBEW Local 43’s five-year training program with a MVCC Electrical Service Technician AOS degree at no cost and an opportunity to earn a Project Management Certificate from Syracuse University, as well as a pathway to transfer seamlessly into Alfred State College’s bachelor’s degree program in Business Administration: Technology Management — a fully online degree that is highly accessible for working adults.
Also, by leveraging preexisting agreements that Alfred State has with MBA programs around the state, including one with Syracuse University, the pathway for the IBEW population extends through a professional degree.
The joint announcement was made on April 8, by MVCC President Dr. Randall J. VanWagoner, Ph.D.; Alfred State College President Steven Mauro, Ph.D.; Dean, College of Professional Studies from Syracuse University Michael J. Frasciello, Ph.D.; IBEW Local 43 Business Manager/Financial Secretary Alan Marzullo; and NECA President James Engler.
MVCC President VanWagoner said, “Our coalition of diverse partners has constructed a first of its kind, non-redundant, coherent pathway for highly skilled electrical workers to advance along the project management career ladder that fundamentally relies on a noncredit-to-credit pathway breaking the traditional mold of higher education and acting as an exemplar model, ripe to replicate.”
Syracuse University’s Dean Frasciello said, “Our partnership with MVCC, Alfred State, and the IBEW is the first of many collaborations that provide talented students with the opportunity to advance their careers while shaping the future of the electrical trades and the industries they serve. This partnership focuses three of the region’s leading academic institutions on developing the next generation of future-ready electrical trades professionals.”
Alfred’s President Mauro said, “Alfred State College is proud to partner with IBEW, MVCC, and Syracuse University to strengthen our long history of working with unions to create non-traditional pathways for career advances in the skilled trades. As advances in technology continue, skilled tradespeople will require greater competencies. It is partnerships like this that will provide advanced training for our electrical technicians who wish to gain a workforce advantage and become managers and leaders in their trade. We look forward to continuing our tradition of providing local and regional industry with workforce-ready graduates.”
IBEW’s Marzullo said, “This complex but highly synergistic partnership will enable IBEW Local 43 to further enhance the welfare of our members while maintaining perfect alignment to our steadfast commitment of providing the highest quality of skilled electricians to our contractors. We have long provided college-level learning to our apprentices and we are thrilled that our college partners have identified a mechanism to recognize this. There is now great congruity between organized labor training and higher education and it is for the betterment of all.”
About Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC)
Mohawk Valley Community College, established in 1946, is New York State’s first community college with a mission to provide accessible, high-quality educational opportunities for everyone. As the community’s college, MVCC is committed to student success through partnerships, transfer and career pathways, and personal enrichment. With campuses in Utica and Rome, MVCC is the region’s primary provider of college education, offering 90 degree and certificate options for its enrollment of 6,000 full- and part-time students. MVCC also serves an additional 6,000 people through its corporate and community education programs, and its campuses welcome more than 50,000 people annually for community events. For more information, visit mvcc.edu.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is an independent research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our 13 schools and colleges and over 200 majors close the gap between education and action, so graduates are equipped to be resourceful, responsive and real-world ready. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected issues with innovative approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community of game changers that moves ideas, individuals and impact forward. For more information, visit https://www.syracuse.edu/
About Alfred State College
Alfred State College is a public college in Alfred, New York. It is part of the State University of New York system. The college, formerly the Technical College at Alfred, offers a wide variety of majors in both 4-year bachelor’s degrees or 2-year associate degrees. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a member of the Rochester Area Colleges consortium. Visit https://www.alfredstate.edu/ for more information.
About the IBEW
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represent over 800,000 workers throughout the United States and Canada in all phases of the electrical industry. Local 43 represents nearly 1200 + hard-working men and women in these six counties of New York: Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego and parts of Cayuga, Chenango, Otsego, Tompkins and Wayne counties. Visit https://www.ibew43.org/ for more information.
About NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association)
NECA is the voice of the $171 billion electrical contracting industry representing over 4500 electrical contracting businesses in the US and Internationally. The Finger Lakes Chapter NECA represents Central NY contractors who employ IBEW Local 43 electricians, and funds the IBEW educational training program creating a skilled workforce. Visit https://www.flneca.org for more information.