Remote Assessments Now Available to MSSC Authorized Assessment Centersmay1

We are delighted to share that the remote MSSC Assessment option powered by ProctorU is available earlier than anticipated to our MSSC Authorized Assessment Centers! Starting Monday, May 11th orders can begin being placed and proctoring services arranged for your students to take all MSSC assessments (listed below) from the comfort of their home or other remote location:
For more information or questions please contact any member of our MSSC Operations or Marketing Team https://www.msscusa.org/staff/ 
MSSC Chairman on Workforce Central Podcast may2

MSSC Chairman, Leo Reddy, was invited as a guest on the Workforce Central Podcast hosted by the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). With host Ron Painter, President/CEO of NAWB & MSSC Board Member led a conversation with Leo on the importance of a strong, flexible national industrial base and high value of emerging "Industry 4.0" technologies. Industry can not deploy these technologies successfully in the absence of a higher skilled, "4.0" workforce.

To listen to the full Podcast, follow this link.
FloridaMakes Partners with the MSSC to Offer the DOL Approved "Related Instructional Training" component of its Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Statewide Apprenticeship Program purely "Online!"may3

FloridaMakes, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in Florida, is bridging the entry-level skills gap to prepare incumbent manufacturing apprentice workers with the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) certification courseware entirely online. The CPT is the core component of the first step (DOL approved "Related Instructional Training") in the Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) apprenticeship program.

Apprentice workers will be exposed to critical foundational advanced manufacturing skills and competencies to ensure their success once they move on to complete their IMT apprenticeship. Apprentices with the CPT exposure are far more likely to succeed in any full manufacturing apprenticeship program. Equally important is that employers will be assured that their sponsored apprentices will have the production skills necessary to start, succeed, and efficiently acquire the OJT training specific to their plant/sector.

For the full press release, follow this link.
Community News
Our community of MSSC Authorized Assessment Centers continues to inspire our Headquarters team as facilities pivot their offerings to accommodate to their students affected by campus closures due to COVID-19. Sharing these examples may give your facility ideas and inspiration on how you can still offer the MSSC training courses and assessments to students from home.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College R3 Career Services assists the community during COVID-19 crisismay4

MSSC Authorized Assessment Center, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, continues to offer a variety of services to their students even amongst campus closures. These services have included job coaching, career planning, job preparation programs, scholarship opportunities for workplace certifications, resume building, career skill certification and more.

More specifically RCCC is currently offering the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) & Logistics Technician (CLT) Certification remotely to students as reported on Channel WBTV3:

"In addition to general career planning services, specific job preparation options are available, including the Certified Production Technician course offered through the NC Manufacturing Institute and the College's new Certified Logistics Technician course that certifies candidates to work in logistics facilities for local companies such as Chewy, ALDI or Dillard's."

Click here for the full article.
New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. (NJMEP) Offering Programs to Help New Jersey Manufacturers During COVID-19 Pandemicmay5

The New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NJMEP) is offering support to the manufacturers who have been affected by COVID-19. Services are including a back-to-work recovery guide, checklist, online training and assessments using MSSC. NJMEP is also offering consulting services to manufacturers to help them plan, prepare, protect, and recover their operations. The article shared on PRNewswire highlights the proactive approach NJMEP is taking with their local manufacturing community and incorporating MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) into their offerings:

"NJMEP will also be training 160 underemployed or unemployed individuals from Newark, Paterson, Camden and Trenton who will be provided with online Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) training. These individuals will receive foundational certifications in manufacturing and transportation, logistics and distribution (TLD) - the qualification helps with upskilling and onboarding.

Candidates will be available for a 90 day 'temp to perm' assignment after the completion of the first module.

MSSC training includes modules in Safety, Quality Practices & Management, Manufacturing Processes & Production, and Maintenance Awareness. Participants will graduate from the program as either Certified Production Technicians (CPT) or Certified Logistics Technicians (CLT)."

To read more, follow this link.
Northwest-Shoals Community College offering free summer pre-apprenticeship programmay6

MSSC Authorized Assessment Center, Northwest-Shoals Community College is already looking ahead to the summer to offer a Pre-Apprenticeship Program for individuals who are ready to jumpstart a career in manufacturing and earn our Certified Production Technician (CPT) Certification!

"Ideally it would be good for someone who's wanting to maybe retrain, brush up on some skills, maybe someone who's new to college, someone who might be interested in any of our career technical programs but is not exactly sure which one they want to choose, so it's going to be an introduction to all of them,"- Tara Branscome, Adult Education Director

Check out the latest television news broadcast via this link on WHNT19 for more information.
Policy & Trends
House Introduces COVID-19 Phase V Stimulus Package to Support Workforcemay7

On May 1, the House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced a COVID-19 (Coronavirus) relief package in the form of a Relaunching America's Workforce Act (RAWA). This bill includes $15 billion in added investments to help Americans secure the education and training they need to get back to work. RAWA intends to provide both immediate and long term supports to the U.S. workforce. Funding for the workforce system will be funneled through existing channels, to get resources to the local level as quickly as possible. RAWA aims to keep people on the job now, while also putting people back to work.

As detailed in a May 4 "MSSC Community Alert," MSSC encourages members and partners to contact their representatives and urge their support of the legislation. 
Pell Grants for Incarceratedmay8

On April 24, as part of the Second Chance Pell program expanded the number of institutions where incarcerated students are eligible to use Federal Pell Grant to enroll in now 130 schools located in 42 states and the District of Columbia. With a goal to offer education opportunities to incarcerated individuals for re-entry to society and reduce recidivism, this is an increase from 63 schools in 26 states. The US Department of Education received letters of interest from 180 institutions and AdvanceCTE & ACTE have written to Secretary Betsy DeVos asking for greater expansion. Follow this link for a list of the 67 new institutions.
CTE Programs Funded with Perkins Can Donate/Loan Medical Equipmentmay9

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs can donate or loan personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies purchased with federal funds to public health agencies, private nonprofit hospitals, and other licensed health providers to support the nationwide Coronavirus response effort. This new flexibility guidance comes in response to a desire from state and local educators to donate their unused equipment during the COVID-19 National Emergency. To learn more click here.
Article in Business Publication, Forbes, Criticizes Ivanka's "Ivanka's IRAPs"may10

On April 20 a leading business publication, Forbes magazine's "Editor's Pick," published an article by Ryan Craig, Senior Education Contributor, entitled "Ivanka's IRAPs Are not a Plausible Workforce Strategy." Characterizing Ivanka Trump as the federal government's top expert on workforce development, Craig criticizes her signature "Industry-recognized Apprenticeships" (IRAPs) as being "a huge commitment of time and resources" that "99.9%" of employers will simply not make. Click here for the full article.
New Funding Opportunity
Congress set aside 1% of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the CARES Act for grants to States with the highest Coronavirus burden. The Department will make these grants available to States most affected by Coronavirus through two separate grant competitions:

The Education Stabilization Fund-Reimagining Workforce Preparation Grants (ESF-RWP Grants)  provides support to help States leverage the power of entrepreneurship to create new educational opportunities and pathways that help citizens return to work, small businesses recover, and new entrepreneurs thrive. These programs also build new capacity within the state to offer short-term postsecondary programs that are responsive to the needs of individuals to more rapidly adapt and evolve to ever changing workplace and community needs. This funding opportunity is offered under section 18001(a)(3) of Division B of the CARES Act.
The Education Stabilization Fund-Rethink K12 Education Models Grants  (ESF-REM Grants) provide support to State Educational Agencies (SEAs) in States with the highest Coronavirus burden to address specific educational needs of students, their parents, and teachers in public and non-public elementary and secondary schools in accordance with section 18001(a)(3) of the CARES Act. Questions for ESF-REM may go to  ESF-REM@ED.gov may11
DOL Announces $29.2 Million Funding for Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiativemay12

The U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), announced the availability of approximately $29.2 million in a second round of grant funding for the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative. 

Authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, WORC Initiative grants take a long-term view towards assisting eligible communities in diversifying their economies and expanding and diversifying partnerships by investing in local strategies developed by regional partners. ETA will award those applicants that align and integrate workforce development activities with existing state, regional, or community development strategies. Ranging from $150,000 to $1.5 million, the grants also help serve those receiving employment and training services from organizations in regions affected by the opioid crisis.  Information on the grant can be found by following this link.
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