Burke Architectural Millwork

Opportunities in professional trades and medical assisting are available

An important success story for Schoolcraft College and area businesses has been told through the College’s registered apprenticeship program. Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for those already passionate about an occupation to “earn while they learn” as they gain important professional experience. Since 2020, 15 Schoolcraft College students have completed their apprenticeship in professional trades or medical assisting.

Logan Leinbach in action — Schoolcraft College student Logan Leinbach became the first Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist apprentice. The College worked with Leinbach’s employer, Burke Architectural Millwork; the Department of Labor; and other agencies to create this apprenticeship.

Those students will be recognized in a program on Tuesday, April 19, at the VisTaTech Center on the main campus. Attendees scheduled to appear include Livonia Mayor Maureen Brosnan; U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens; Detroit and Michigan Department of Labor officials; apprenticeship employer-sponsors; and businesses with apprenticeships in place.

The apprentices are from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties and represent a wide range of communities, including Ann Arbor, Canton, Farmington Hills, Garden City, Warren, Westland, Wixom and Ypsilanti.

“Apprenticeships are really a win-win for the student and the employer,” said Pamela Linton, Apprenticeship Coordinator for Schoolcraft College. “The employers are gaining students who are establishing a foundation with their educational training and bringing that to the workplace where they’re receiving on-the-job training, customized specifically to the employer!”

“And for the students, they have a job in their profession with a company they like that has invested in them. Our latest data on medical assistants, for example, shows that after five years about 80% of the student apprentices are still with the company that sponsored them. Further, at the end of the training, students have little to no student loan debt.”

Apprenticeships at a glance

Topic	What apprenticeships offer
Emphasis	On-the-job training
Usual duration	1 to 4 years
Structure	Focus on mastering specific skills
Mentorship	Individualized training with experienced mentor
Pay	Always paid, wages at or above industry standard at conclusion
Do you earn a credential?	Yes, you get a national credential from the Department of Labor
Do you earn college credit?	Yes, and often complete Schoolcraft College certification(s) also

From the Department of Labor

Linton collaborates with area businesses and the Department of Labor (DOL) to establish apprenticeship programs to meet talent needs. As part of this role, Linton assists employers in creating curriculum related to their occupations, and helps students determine if apprenticeship is the right path for them.

Apprenticeships offer opportunities in a wide array of areas, covering almost every student interest. There are currently over 1,200 apprenticeable occupations through the DOL, with more added every year. Currently, Schoolcraft College is proud to have placed over 70 apprentices, representing 20-plus occupations, placed at over 25 area companies.

Logan Leinbach created this display case at the Manufacturing & Engineering Center.

The College has been at the forefront of collaborating to create new opportunities. One example is student Logan Leinbach, who is the first Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist apprentice and will recognized at the event.

Schoolcraft and Leinbach’s employer, Burke Architectural Millwork in Livonia, helped develop the apprenticeship for the Department of Labor over the course of two years, including working with The Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. Burke was able to move Leinbach from his CAD apprenticeship into the Woodwork program, which he recently completed.

For more information about apprenticeships, please contact Pamela Linton by email at [email protected] or by phone at 734-462-7372.

Learn the differences, see which might be right for you

Learning, of course, is the goal of any college experience. Part of that education means familiarizing yourself with some unfamiliar terms. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

As part of an occasional series, we’ll explain phrases, lingo or topics to add to your college vocabulary. We call it “Say What?” If there’s a topic you’d like to see covered, please send suggestions to [email protected].

Today we’ll learn about internships and apprenticeships.

Internships and apprenticeships are two great ways to better understand the responsibilities of your intended career. Internships offer the opportunity for students to “test drive” a potential job, and employers get the opportunity to evaluate a possible future team member. In contrast, apprenticeships are a good fit for those who are already passionate about an occupation and are no longer in the exploratory phase.

Schoolcraft College offers paths to internships and apprenticeships. So what is the difference? See the chart below for a general comparison:

Topic	Internships	Apprenticeships
Emphasis	On-the-job learning	On-the-job training
Usual duration	1 to 12 months	1 to 4 years
Structure	Entry-level work	Focus on mastering specific skills
Mentorship	Not always provided	Individualized training with experienced mentor
Pay	Usually paid	Always paid
Credential earned?	Not usually	Yes – national credential from Dept. of Labor
College credit?	Possible	Yes

A table comparing internships and apprenticeships structure

Information from apprenticeship.gov

Person attaching wire to plexiglass — Schoolcraft College student Logan Leinbach is the first Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist apprentice. The College and Leinbach’s employer, Burke Architectural Millwork, helped develop the apprenticeship for the Department of Labor.

Let’s take a closer look at both.

Internships

Karen Maxton is Employment and Internship Coordinator, Occupational Programs, at Schoolcraft College. In her role, she’s continuously in contact with industry professionals as well as placement and training agencies to understand the needs in the business environment. With that knowledge, she assesses students’ job skills and matches them with employer needs. To prepare students for this next step, she assists with resume building and interview prep/mock interviews.

Once the match is made, Maxton follows up as necessary to ensure a positive and productive experience for both the student and the employer. She also works with employers to develop customized rapid-response, non-credit training programs.

For more information about internships, please contact Karen Maxton by email at [email protected] or by phone at 734-462-4787.

Apprenticeships

Pamela Linton is the Apprenticeship Coordinator for Schoolcraft College. She collaborates with area businesses and the Department of Labor (DOL) to establish apprenticeship programs to meet talent needs. As part of this role, Linton assists employers in creating curriculum related to their occupations, and helps students determine if apprenticeship is the right path for them.

Apprenticeships, which are called the “earn and learn” model, offer opportunities in a wide array of areas, covering almost every student interest. There are currently over 1,200 apprenticeable occupations through the DOL, with more added every year. Currently, Schoolcraft College is proud to have 60 apprentices, representing 20-plus occupations, placed at over 20 area companies.

For more information about apprenticeships, please contact Pamela Linton by email at [email protected] or by phone at 734-462-7372.