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National report shows KCTCS earn-and-learn program, KY FAME, has outstanding outcomes

WKCTC's KY FAME program perfect fit for WKCTC alumnus

Paducah, KY (10/22/2020) — Programmable logic controllers and robotics may not sound like areas of study most people would think of when it comes to manufacturing. But for Brad Copeland, a 35-year-old employee of Vanderbilt Chemicals in Murray, Ky., they are part of his daily job. Copeland is a recent graduate of West Kentucky Community and Technical College's (WKCTC) Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (KY FAME) program.

The college's advanced manufacturing program was the perfect fit for the education and training Copeland needed for his current position as an electrical and instrument technician in the maintenance department - a move that offered him the opportunity to work the day shift and to learn the new skill set needed to be a good fit for the job. Copeland was a chemical operator at Vanderbilt Chemicals prior to attending WKCTC's KY FAME program.

KY FAME is an earn-and-learn, apprenticeship-style program in which WKCTC and the other colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) work with local companies to prepare students for advanced manufacturing careers.

Opportunity America and the Brookings Institution have released a new report on the success of KY FAME, that shows just how well the program is working and shares outcomes for its graduates.

Working with KCTCS, Kentucky Center for Statistics, Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education and program graduates, Opportunity America and Brookings reported the following based on data from 2010-11 through 2016-17:

  • KY FAME graduates have a higher completion rate than those not in the program. Roughly 80 percent completed KY FAME. Higher completion rates were seen no matter the race or gender of the student.
  • KY FAME graduates have higher earnings. The one, three and five-year earnings show a significant difference for KY FAME graduates vs. non-FAME graduates. Five years into their careers, FAME graduates are earning nearly $100,000, which is $45,000 more than the non-FAME graduates.
  • 94 percent of graduates said on-the-job training was the most important part of the program.
  • 87 percent said the combination of classroom learning and on-the-job training was most important.

"Today's manufacturing careers require skills in technology, critical thinking, problem solving and communication," KCTCS Chancellor Kris Williams said. "Those skills are incorporated into the classroom portion of the FAME program along with the hands-on learning students receive. This is an excellent earn-and-learn program that pays while one learns."

KY FAME students attend class two days a week at a KCTCS college and apply what they've learned three days a week at their job site. They are paid for their work by the sponsoring company, most are hired by the sponsoring company and many employers cover the cost of tuition. Most students graduate with 2,000 hours of work experience for the two-year program.

"On the days that I went to school, I learned the foundation and then I'd apply it on the job. So, it went hand-in-hand," Copeland said. "I could actually catch on faster because I learned it, and then as quickly as sometimes the next day, I was using what I learned."

The program is employer led and employers of all sizes are part of the 11 KY FAME chapters. Students must apply with the sponsoring company.

"Our WKCTC KY FAME chapter sponsors understand the importance of investing in education and training of the local workforce," said Jonathan Baker, WKCTC KY FAME program coordinator. "This educational investment in incumbent workers, as well as recruited high school graduates help to provide a pathway of professional development, which in turn, helps employers retain employees."

According to the Opportunity America/Brookings report: "The message for employers, educators and policymakers: earn-and-learn training works, and the nation should redouble its efforts to take the model to scale. Among the main reasons it is successful: on-the-job experience gives meaning to classroom instruction and helps students get jobs after graduation."

Richard Davis, vice president of Vanderbilt Chemicals, LLC, said KY FAME skill sets that are learned in the classroom can turn things around to benefit both students and companies. "It's just a matter of getting the foundation; getting started." Davis said. "Without that foundation, students would not be as prepared in the workplace."

KCTCS colleges are in need of additional manufacturing partners. For information on how to be part of KY FAME program at WKCTC, contact Jonathan Baker at jonathan.baker@kctcs.edu, 270-856-2408.

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