The Apprentice School

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The Apprentice School


Established:	1919
Type:	four-year apprenticeship program
Faculty:	16 academic instructors, 50+ craft instructors ^[1]
Students:	725
Location:	Newport News, VA, USA
Campus:	Urban/shipyard
Colors:	Maroon and Gold
Mascot:	Builders
Website:	www.apprenticeschool.com

The Apprentice School (also known as Newport News Apprentice School) is a four-year apprenticeship vocational school founded and operated by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia. The school trains students for careers in the shipbuilding industry. It is not a traditional college in that it does not grant degrees -- associate's degrees earned by students in the program are earned through Thomas Nelson Community College -- but it does compete athletically with other small colleges.

1 History
2 Admissions
3 Academics
4 Campus
5 Athletics
6 Notes
7 References
8 External links

[edit] History

The school was established on July 1, 1919 by issue of Executive Order No. 24 at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, signed by General manager Homer L. Ferguson.

[edit] Admissions

Admissions is competitive, although an exact admission rate is not known. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Monthly selection meetings are held at which all qualified applicants are considered for available openings. Offers are extended to applicants whom the Admissions Office determines to be best qualified for the openings available.

Successful candidates are offered both employment at Newport News Shipbuilding and enrollment at the Apprentice School. Each successful candidate will be scheduled for a medical examination that includes a substance abuse screening test administered by Newport News Shipbuilding's Medical Department. Employment and enrollment is contingent on the results of the medical examination. Candidates to whom an offer is extended will be subject to a United States Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. ^[2]

[edit] Academics

All apprentices are required to complete the School's "World Class Shipbuilder Curriculum" and applicable courses in the "Trade Related Education Curriculum." The curriculum gives students the opportunity to earn an associate degree from Thomas Nelson Community College.

Apprenticeships are offered in 17 skilled trades:

Heating & Air Conditioning
Pipefitter & Pipefitter - Maintenance
Painter-Insulator
Outside Machinist
Heavy Metal Fabricator
Non-Destructive Tester (NDT)
Shipfitter
Welder & Welding Equipment Repair
Dimensional Control Technician
Machinist
Sheet Metal Worker
Rigger
Electrician
Electrician Maintenance
Millwright

Advanced programs are offered in five areas:

Marine Designer
Modeling & Simulation
Nuclear Test Technician
Production Planner
Advanced Shipyard Operations

The Apprentice School was first awarded accreditation by the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1982. In 1995, it transferred its accreditation from there to the Accrediting Commission of the Council on Occupational Education.

[edit] Campus

The school is physically located at Northrop Grumman Corporation's Newport News Sector (formally Newport News Shipbuilding). Some of the upper-level academic courses are taken at Thomas Nelson Community College.

[edit] Athletics

The Apprentice School Builder

The Apprentice School fields six Division III-Level athletic teams, but because it does not grant degrees, it is not affiliated with the NCAA or NAIA.

Its football team is a member of the Atlantic Central Football Conference, its wrestling team is a member of the National Collegiate Wrestling Association, and men's and women's basketball, men's golf and baseball are all part of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.