GCC Gains National Recognition for Work-Ready Boot Camp Model
The Guam Community College was named first runner-up in the US Department of Education’s Rethink Adult Ed Challenge, for its Marine Transportation Ship Repair Boot Camp program. There were 203 initial entries submitted, which were narrowed to 85 finalists representing 31 states as well as Guam and the District of Columbia. The top five finalists were chosen based on five criteria: Local or national need, Industry connection, Skill advancement, Learner focused, and Team (rethinkadulted.com/selection-
The Guam Community College submission highlighted the Marine Transportation Ship Repair Boot Camps that have graduated 75 participants to date, all of whom were offered employment with Cabras Marine Corporation. The Ship Repair Boot Camp serves as the model for many of GCC’s work-ready boot camps in many other career fields. GCC engages its private sector partners throughout the process: designing the curriculum, screening applications, interviewing applicants, selecting participants and then hiring the completers into their apprenticeship program.
“Engaging our private sector partners throughout the boot camp process is so critical to the success of our participants,” according to Dr. Mary Okada, GCC President. “We have an 87% completion rate for the Ship Repair boot camps and we believe that directly correlates to ensuring the program meets the specific needs of our private sector partners."
