Program Provides Graduates with the Skills and Knowledge Required to Find Immediate Employment or Advancement in the Residential Construction Industry
SUNY Sullivan, in partnership with the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC), is launching a new two-year Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) in Construction Technology degree program this fall. The new pathway program is specifically designed to help meet the growing state-wide need for a skilled labor force in construction.
Construction Technology AOS students will complete instruction and on-the-job training through the NASRCC’s apprenticeship program in Rock Tavern followed by additional courses in green building, accounting, communications, computer literacy and other studies at SUNY Sullivan. Upon completion of the program, Construction Technology AOS graduates will have a mastery of the skills and knowledge required to find immediate employment or advancement in the residential construction industry. Graduates can also use 61 of their credit hours from SUNY Sullivan toward a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Construction Supervision at Alfred State College.
“We are so excited to bring this program to students in this region. Partnerships between industry and higher education are proven to produce successful students,” said SUNY Sullivan President Jay Quaintance. “This innovative pathway that leads to high-wage employment combines the best of apprenticeships and traditional college programs. On-the-job-training combined with the academic knowledge to support it ensure that these students will be ready for the ever-evolving 21st century building trades environment.”
“The Carpenters union leads the industry in teaching the trade skills and professionalism needed to sustain a good-paying career in construction,” said Tom Fischer, Director of the North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund (NASCTF). “This new partnership with SUNY Sullivan will expand opportunities we make available starting with pre-apprentice exploration and training programs, formal apprenticeship, and lifetime skills upgrade training. Choosing a career in construction offers several opportunities from job site, hands-on opportunities to management positions with established contractors. Through our training and our partnerships, like this one with SUNY, all kinds of options stay on the table.”
Local representatives and economic development leaders voiced strong support for the new degree program and the impact the partnership will have on the regional economy and workforce.
“I could not be more excited to see this new associate degree offered at SUNY Sullivan,” said Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther. “I want to thank the college and the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters for working with my office to get this done. All across our state we’re seeing a shortage of workers in the trades. This education will help students get the training they need to fill these highly paid, skilled jobs. This collaboration is another example of how our community comes together to ensure we’re ready to meet the economic demands of the future.”
“The resilience and growth of our economy depends upon the strength of our trade unions and the cultivation of the next generation of leaders in the workforce,” said Senator Mike Martucci. “As the graduate of an associate degree program and a strong believer in apprenticeship and workforce development programs, I have seen the life-changing and lasting impact they have on the individual and our communities. I am thrilled by this partnership because I know, together, SUNY Sullivan and the Carpenters union will continue to propel generations of men and women to long, prosperous careers.”
“SUNY Sullivan has long been a vital and valued partner with Sullivan County’s Center for Workforce Development, and this new curriculum will offer yet another reason for students to seek higher education locally,” said Sullivan County Division of Community Resources Commissioner Laura Quigley. “The program will increase a very much in-demand workforce in one of the fastest-growing regions of New York State, with competitive-wage jobs available as soon as participants graduate, right here in Sullivan County. And, in addition to gaining the hands-on training they’ll need to succeed, students will reap all the benefits of a liberal-arts college education.”
“With a need for skilled tradesmen growing and 89,000 openings for carpenters each year in the United States, SUNY Sullivan in Partnership with North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters construction technology program is both welcoming and timely,” said Marc Baez, President, and CEO of the Partnership for Economic Development in Sullivan County. “Tradespeople are the backbone of our economy, and we must train students to learn updated skills and to replace the seasoned workers now ending their careers in this most important industry sector. With housing and commercial development demands increasing each year in our region, there will be opportunities for good-paying jobs with respectable benefits well into the future.”
SUNY Sullivan offers seated in-person, online, and hybrid classes. For more information on SUNY Sullivan’s Construction Technology AOS Program, please visit sunysullivan.edu/construction-technology-aos or call 845-567-1810. Applicants must have an official transcript showing completion of the North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund (NASCTF) Pathways Curriculum.
To apply to the NASCTF apprenticeship program, applicants must first attend one of their information sessions, which are held on the first Monday of every month at the NASRCC Local 279 training center at 52 Stone Castle Rd., Rock Tavern, NY 12575. The next information session takes place Monday, August 1 at 6 pm. For more information about Local 279’s training center in Rock Tavern, or to apply, visit carpenterslocalunion279.org or call 845-567-1810. For more information about the apprenticeship program, visit nasctf.org. For those who can’t attend the in-person information sessions, the NASCTF is holding virtual information sessions on the first and third Monday of every month at 6 p.m. To attend a virtual information session, you must pre-register by emailing info@nasctf.org.
About the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
The North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters represents more than 28,000 men and women employed by the leading residential and commercial general contractors and carpentry subcontractors in the region. Work performed by carpenters includes wood framing; concrete; interior metal framing and drywall; ceilings; window installation; flooring; doors and hardware; finish/trim; mill work and furniture installation; pile driving; marine construction and diving. The union prides itself on offering the most comprehensive apprenticeship and life-long skills upgrade training to members at 18 locations. Curriculum is developed by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters with industry experts and often shared with vocational training programs. For more information visit nasrcc.org, and find the NASRCC on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube. The NASRCC’s state-of- the-art training facility is located in Rock Tavern, New York. All courses are led by United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) certified training coordinators. All training coordinators have received their training from the Carpenters International Training Center (ITC) in Las Vegas, Nevada, and are considered to be the foremost authority in their certified areas of expertise. For more information, visit carpenters.org/itc.
About SUNY Sullivan
SUNY Sullivan is the leader of innovative higher education and a catalyst for workforce development throughout the Sullivan Catskills and beyond. Our diverse community cultivates personal growth and professional advancement, preparing students for success in a sustainable and interconnected world. A forward-looking, top-tier community college in New York, SUNY Sullivan offers over 40-degree programs, certificates, and micro-credentials for learners at all levels of their educational goals. We value critical inquiry and creativity while supporting our students in a culture of inclusion and respect.
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July 18, 2022.