This article is from HBAV's historical archive. Some formatting may differ from current articles.
A signing ceremony at the beginning of May marked the beginning of a partnership between the Build Smart Institute and Ferrum College aiming to merge construction trades training with college credentialing, offering a promising new educational pathway in the construction industry.
The partnership focuses on integrating construction training into a robust curriculum that leads to an Associate Degree in construction. Targeted primarily at high school students, this program offers dual enrollment, fully prepared to enter the workforce, allowing students to graduate with an industry-accredited associate degree.
A key feature introduced at the ceremony was the development of E-learning modules that will make the program available nationwide. This move will break down geographical barriers and increase access to the program, making it more inclusive.
The event featured speeches from Mirta M. Martin, PhD, President of Ferrum College; Bryan Slater, Secretary of Labor for the Commonwealth of Virginia; and leaders from the Build Smart Institute. Their discussions touched on the importance of this partnership in contributing positively to the construction industry.
The Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV) also presented a grant from its Education Foundation, which will fund five scholarships for the CORE Fundamentals Program, aiming to nurture talent and support educational initiatives that help build a more skilled workforce.
