Texas Border Business
MCALLEN, TEXAS – South Texas College (STC) and the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of Associated General Contractors of America (RGV-AGC) Have partnered together to develop a Construction Superintendent Apprenticeship Program.
The new program is designed for those already employed in the construction industry, and who are able to meet the requirements for the apprenticeship, which includes an on-the-job schedule as well as completion of a nine-month curriculum established by the college.
STC has already set up its cohort of incumbent students provided by RGV-AGC for the apprenticeship program beginning the first week in January.
The college has established the course as a “hybrid-style” setup while making it flexible enough to be fully online if needed.
The program will be conducted in cohorts beginning in January with plans to make it a perpetual apprenticeship program. The nine-month certificate has a time range of about four to six weeks per course for a total of 48 credit hours.
The course will also encompass 2,000 hours of on-the-job criteria that will be required before students earn their journeyman certificate.
“The main support behind the program is coming from industry itself,” said Carlos Margo, Associate Dean of Industry Training and Economic Development. “They have been instrumental in advising for the program and helping us put it together. It has been developed through real life industry needs.
“That’s what makes this strong. It’s because this is something that has been developed and is need-based and not developed in a vacuum,” Margo said.
The course is intended to target individuals working in construction-related careers, and especially for those working in public sector jobs including federal projects, schools, and industrial. Through RGV-AGC contacts, those working in the industry have explained that there is a shortage in superintendents to manage and oversee these projects.
Companies have asked STC to help train individuals who are currently working to update their skills and prepare them to be more effective and efficient in their daily tasks.
STC has sought to update these skills so these students complete an OSHA certification, are updated on industrial and commercial blueprint reading, as well as higher level construction management skills compared to what is currently being offered at the college.
Examples of course offerings in the program include project scheduling, and underlying all courses would be leadership skills and jobsite training.
“We are hoping we can prepare these individuals to be able to step into the role of a construction foreman, or a construction area manager, project superintendent, or project executive role,” Margo said. “The idea discussed is that the apprenticeship program will be at a higher level than the courses currently offered in our Construction Supervision program so we really are in a sense creating a pathway from Construction Supervision into the Apprenticeship Program.”
Requirements for students include prior experience in the construction industry along with a knowledge in supervising or management. In the future, STC is looking at opening the apprenticeship to the general public for those interested in becoming construction superintendents. Potential students need to be eligible to work, must have a social security number, and must be enrolled in selective service.
Anyone seeking more information can contact IAM at 956-872-6197.
