Investing in local community colleges to support advanced manufacturing
2023-04-26
Our drive to deliver an all-electric future impacts all areas of our business, including how we invest in the future of manufacturing. Our team members adapt to updated technology with each new vehicle we bring to production. Keeping up with training and skills needed is essential, and that’s why we’ve made a special grant of $600,000 to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to study and share best practices for expanding advanced manufacturing credentialing programs around the country.
Seven community colleges near GM facilities have been selected and will take part in an initial study that explores the connection between manufacturing technologies and current curriculums to develop essential programs and credentialing options.
The participating community colleges include:
- Ivy Tech Community College (Indiana)
- Lansing Community College (Michigan)
- Columbia State Community College (Tennessee)
- Owens Community College (Ohio)
- Johnson County Community College (Kansas)
- St. Charles Community College (Missouri)
- Imperial Valley Community College (California)
Each college was awarded a $40,000 grant and will receive technical assistance from the AACC over the course of the next year. In addition to direct engagement with local programs, the AACC will develop collateral to support colleges around the country to increase skills training, identify and elevate best practices in program design, and provide support to replicate and adapt the learnings from these initial investments to their own campuses.
“We are thrilled to work with AACC and to provide our support for this program, which will help integrated advanced manufacturing credentials at community colleges nationwide,” said Terry Rhadigan, GM vice president of Corporate Giving. “In the automotive industry and beyond, manufacturing technology is becoming more intricate, and it is increasingly important to equip the current and future workforce with the skills and training they need to succeed in modern manufacturing careers.”
To celebrate these collaborations, our plant teams invited community college recipients to their manufacturing facilities for a tour, to speak with current team members and to discuss the importance of what the program means for the future workforce.
Preparing students for manufacturing careers
Technology informs much of the manufacturing process today, from the use of computer chips to the specialty equipment used in the design process, all the way through a vehicle rolling off the assembly line. As we bring more EVs to market and invest in our facilities to meet the demand, we want to ensure our team members have the skills needed to step into these opportunities.
Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne and Warsaw is one of the selected colleges and is accustomed to working with manufacturing industries, including our Fort Wayne Assembly operation. In 2020, Ivy Tech became a part of the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the Indiana Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education.
Sam Barker is an electrician at Fort Wayne Assembly and former Ivy Tech student. When asked about his experience at Ivy Tech and what this grant means for students, he said:
“During my time at Ivy Tech, I had a chance to slow down and dig deeper into the skills I’m using now. The industry is fast-paced and always changing, so I believe this will be a big benefit to current and future students and our area’s manufacturing industry.”
In Ohio, we are fortunate to have Owens Community College as a collaborator. Owens has developed a reputation as a leader in manufacturing education in Northwest Ohio having helped establish the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Logistics.
When asked how this will positively impact the future of work for our Toledo Propulsion Systems team, plant executive director Eric Gonzales said:
“Owens Community College and GM Toledo Propulsion Systems partnership will help to drive the transformation of advanced manufacturing. The technological journey of innovation demands integration of higher skills, through the development of constant training and education programs for our workforce.”
Careers in manufacturing
Manufacturing offers rewarding career opportunities that employees can build a life around. This is one of the many ways we are helping to encourage manufacturing careers in our communities. Check out open manufacturing positions in communities around the globe at GM Careers – Manufacturing.
Our drive to deliver an all-electric future impacts all areas of our business, including how we invest in the future of manufacturing. Our team members adapt to updated technology with each new vehicle we bring to production. Keeping up with training and skills needed is essential, and that’s why we’ve made a special grant of $600,000 to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to study and share best practices for expanding advanced manufacturing credentialing programs around the country.
Seven community colleges near GM facilities have been selected and will take part in an initial study that explores the connection between manufacturing technologies and current curriculums to develop essential programs and credentialing options.
The participating community colleges include:
- Ivy Tech Community College (Indiana)
- Lansing Community College (Michigan)
- Columbia State Community College (Tennessee)
- Owens Community College (Ohio)
- Johnson County Community College (Kansas)
- St. Charles Community College (Missouri)
- Imperial Valley Community College (California)
Spring Hill Assembly team members and leadership from GM, UAW and Columbia State Community College during a local award ceremony.
Each college was awarded a $40,000 grant and will receive technical assistance from the AACC over the course of the next year. In addition to direct engagement with local programs, the AACC will develop collateral to support colleges around the country to increase skills training, identify and elevate best practices in program design, and provide support to replicate and adapt the learnings from these initial investments to their own campuses.
“We are thrilled to work with AACC and to provide our support for this program, which will help integrated advanced manufacturing credentials at community colleges nationwide,” said Terry Rhadigan, GM vice president of Corporate Giving. “In the automotive industry and beyond, manufacturing technology is becoming more intricate, and it is increasingly important to equip the current and future workforce with the skills and training they need to succeed in modern manufacturing careers.”
To celebrate these collaborations, our plant teams invited community college recipients to their manufacturing facilities for a tour, to speak with current team members and to discuss the importance of what the program means for the future workforce.
Dr. Kim Barnett-Johnson, chancellor of Ivy Tech Fort Wayne and Warsaw, with Gary Duff, executive director, Fort Wayne Assembly.
Preparing students for manufacturing careers
Technology informs much of the manufacturing process today, from the use of computer chips to the specialty equipment used in the design process, all the way through a vehicle rolling off the assembly line. As we bring more EVs to market and invest in our facilities to meet the demand, we want to ensure our team members have the skills needed to step into these opportunities.
Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne and Warsaw is one of the selected colleges and is accustomed to working with manufacturing industries, including our Fort Wayne Assembly operation. In 2020, Ivy Tech became a part of the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the Indiana Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education.
Sam Barker is an electrician at Fort Wayne Assembly and former Ivy Tech student. When asked about his experience at Ivy Tech and what this grant means for students, he said:
“During my time at Ivy Tech, I had a chance to slow down and dig deeper into the skills I’m using now. The industry is fast-paced and always changing, so I believe this will be a big benefit to current and future students and our area’s manufacturing industry.”
Barker speaks with local media about the AACC grant at Fort Wayne Assembly.
In Ohio, we are fortunate to have Owens Community College as a collaborator. Owens has developed a reputation as a leader in manufacturing education in Northwest Ohio having helped establish the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Logistics.
When asked how this will positively impact the future of work for our Toledo Propulsion Systems team, plant executive director Eric Gonzales said:
“Owens Community College and GM Toledo Propulsion Systems partnership will help to drive the transformation of advanced manufacturing. The technological journey of innovation demands integration of higher skills, through the development of constant training and education programs for our workforce.”
Careers in manufacturing
Manufacturing offers rewarding career opportunities that employees can build a life around. This is one of the many ways we are helping to encourage manufacturing careers in our communities. Check out open manufacturing positions in communities around the globe at GM Careers – Manufacturing.
