Fostering Partnership for Construction Education

by Heather Winfrey

Heather Winfrey is the director of the Construction Center for Excellence at Renton Technical College in Renton, Wash.

Washington has led other states in fostering local business-education partnerships to close skill gaps for our high demand industries.   Sector-based training is the key to attracting and retaining companies who want to hire local talent.

In 2003, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) launched the Centers of Excellence initiative to elevate local efforts to maximize and exchange effective training and practices throughout the state.  Centers of Excellence are community or technical colleges that were competitively selected and designated to act as workforce education incubators for sectors vital to our economy.  In this capacity, Centers are uniquely positioned as resource hub for best practices, innovative curriculum, and professional development opportunities.

In 2004, SBCTC selected Renton Technical College to represent Washington’s dynamic Construction Industry.   Renton has a long-standing reputation as a leader in construction training, having partnered extensively with apprenticeships and other colleges and universities statewide and nationally.  Our extensive program selection is driven by current industry practices and flexible for new market entrants to incumbent workers.  Our catalog can be reviewed at  www.rtc.edu. 

Each high demand industry represented by a Center has unique education needs.   For example, curricula for Information Technology training changes continually, as technology drives product development.   Health Care is heavily regulated.  And emerging industries like Homeland Security are changing how workers in all industries maintain safe practices.

In Construction, there is urgency in recruiting and retaining new and diverse workers to replace those who are retiring.  What’s more – if no one retired from construction in the next twenty years (gulp), workforce shortages would still grind private and public projects to a halt.  Construction is the largest industry in the world – and critical gaps are not just occurring in building trades: we’re competing for administrators, managers, designers and maintenance workers, too.

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While other industries are experiencing these shortages, the image of construction has suffered in the last 30+ years, and it’s hurt our ability to attract new talent.   The Construction Center of Excellence (CCE) and its statewide steering committee, comprised of leaders from  business, associations, labor, unions, apprenticeships, and educators, has set a two-year strategic plan to address this pressing issue.  We’re focusing work on improved marketing, message development, and connections to K-12 and other talent pools this year. Take a look at our leadership and their accomplishments at our website,   www.rtc.edu/Community-Resources/CCE.  This site offers comprehensive industry-based links, services, events, curriculum and resources.  We pride ourselves in providing resources, services and events at no cost to the construction workforce community, including:

The Blueprint to Success – Construction Math Initiative, co-sponsored with the Associated General Contractors of Washington Education Foundation, and designed to bring contextual learning to middle and high school math courses

Washington Construction Workforce Network Speakers’ Bureau, connecting industry and post-secondary educators to school activities, career fairs, and conferences

Regional consultation and environmental scans for program development and expansion, and articulation agreement development; mentoring and advising for construction-related programs

Hazards Awareness Train the Trainer for whole-site construction safety designed for training providers and contractors

ESL for the Trades course design and related materials

Host of policy stakeholder meetings, special events and the bi-annual Washington State Construction Workforce Conference

Database of statewide construction training options, connecting K-12 educators to colleges, and apprenticeships and employers in their local area

Co-sponsorship of key initiatives, including Running Start for the Trades, and Pizza, Pop and Power Tools

Consultation with other training providers to update curricula and/or articulate post-secondary programs, such as Construction Management