By Dr. Tamika Riley, Contributing Columnist
An approach that is overlooked for addressing the workforce crisis is early middle college programs. Early Middle College offers students access to higher education while producing graduates who hold the credentials employers value, especially in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and trade fields.
This is not about steering students away from the idea of continuing onto a four-year degree. It is about equipping them with the necessary qualifications to have options of either continuing higher education or entering the workforce directly out of high school.
My experience at Washtenaw Technical Middle College (WTMC) spans 15 years and I have witnessed how exposure to a vast selection of degree and certificate programs can expand a student’s sense of possibility.
The exposure opens students’ eyes to career paths beyond the conventional trajectories they have been conditioned to chase since childhood. As they explore these options, they discover careers that require only a certificate or an associate’s degree and can offer stable well-paying work.
For early middle college students who desire to pursue a four-year degree after graduating, these same programs provide credit that reduces time and cost towards a bachelor’s degree. For students who aspire to go into the workforce, the realization they can graduate from high school and have the credentials employers are actively seeking is life changing.
I have supported early middle college students with choosing from over 130 associate degree and certificate programs at Washtenaw Community College (WCC). These programs provide diverse coursesacross several core career pathways.
Areas of study include transportation technologies, nursing, dental assisting, business and entrepreneurship, welding, information technology, digital and fine arts, law, human services, and more. Each of these programs are designed not only to challenge students academically, but also to equip them with the practical skills that are sought after in today’s job market.
The education, practical training, degrees, and certifications earned make students competitive candidates directly out of high school. Thus, making the early middle college model a smart solution tostrengthening the pipeline of skilled workers into roles experiencing a skills gap and labor shortages- particularly in the skilled trades and career and technical education (CTE) occupations.
When asked about students transitioning into the workforce directly after graduating, WTMC Superintendent Dr. Karl Covert highlighted that a sizeable fraction enters the workforce directly, debt free and earning a livable wage. He emphasized that by being at WTMC students are receiving industry standard certification, and he has seen students find skilled roles, such as working for companies as welders, and operating HVAC systems for corporations among other positions.
In conclusion, as we think about the decline in available skilled workers, it is imperative to recognize the significance of early middle college programs. From a workforce perspective, the impact is undeniable.
Early Middle College students are pursuing nontraditional programs, graduating high school with the appropriate credentials, and are ready to work upon graduation. Investing in early middle college programs not only increases accessibility of higher education, but also actively develops skilled workers industries are demanding.
In my opinion, expanding early middle college initiatives is a high impact strategy- one that delivers shared benefits for students, families, and employers alike.
Dr. Riley graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Psychology, and an M.A. in School and Community Counseling. She has also earned her PhD in Organizational Psychology. Prior to joining WTMC in 2010, Dr. Riley gained valuable experience as a Case Manager for Michigan Works in Detroit. In addition, she has served as a counselor across school and community agency settings throughout the Metro Detroit area.
Dr. Riley can be contacted at riley.tamika@gmail.com.
