The Ins and Outs of Job Outs

Technical education is a smart choice for jump-starting a career these days, and you're likely to leave school with a job and a certificate or associate degree. In fact, some savvy students in programs with a high-demand for skilled technical workers receive job offers well before graduation.

Many career tech programs offer programs that are flexible and work on alternative schedules so students can work and attend school, says Sabina Kidwai, spokeswoman for the Association for Career and Technical Education. Some schools have apprenticeship programs or allow students to take paid internships, which help aid student retention as well.

In some rare cases, schools like Southwest Wisconsin Technical College permit students to "job out" of their program, with instructor approval, in the last four weeks before graduation. Newly employed students can be excused from class attendance, but still must complete class assignments.

This attendance policy is relatively new, and it's important for technical centers to develop policies that fit their student population needs so they can earn the education and training they need, Kidwai says.

Here's a look at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College's program and two others that don't penalize students for getting out there and getting jobs in  their trade before graduation.

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (Fennimore, Wisc.)
Students who have secured employment related to their program may "job out"  with instructor approval, allowing students to be employed while completing course requirements at the same time.

Students are excused from class attendance but still must complete class assignments. A "job out" cannot occur until the last four weeks before graduation

The requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the employer may need to confirm the job offer.
 
Joint Apprenticeship Program (St. Louis, Mo.)
The Carpenters' District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity works with local community colleges so that students in its carpentry, floor layers, and electricians joint apprenticeship programs can opt to work toward an associate degree while employed.

Students attend class one week every three months for four years, said John Gaal, director of training and workforce development for the Carpenters' District Council. The program is one of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship's federally approved apprenticeship programs, he says.

The apprentices must be gainfully employed in the field during the four-year program.

Northeast Technology Center (Four campuses in Oklahoma)
Northeast Technology Center's On-the-Job training policy allows students completing all coursework and achieving a skill level expected by instructors to receive credit for on-the-job training.

Students must attend class at least one day a week while participating in the program. The job must be related to Northeast Technology Center training.

The student and instructor develop a training program that details what the student will be doing at work and how those duties will be reported to earn credit. Students, who can be high schoolers or adult learners, must earn a C or higher in their classes during the on-the-job training period.

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