Danielle McMaster, Real World Learning Coordinator, assists students in developing resumes, employment preparedness, and provides resources to help students understand how their personal interests, strengths, and values might predict satisfaction and success in academics and related career fields.

Mrs. McMaster can be reached at 330.725.8461 x280 or via DMcmaster@mcjvs.edu

MCCC students can gain hands-on experience by working in the career field they are studying while still in high school. Students reaching 160 hours during their employment will be awarded one (1) credit, while those reaching 80 hours will receive one-half (.5) credit for work-based learning hours.

Work-Based Learning experience may be gained in one of the following:

  • Summer Internship (between junior and senior Year): Students have the opportunity to work in their career field and gain real-world experience in the workplace under the direction of a supervisor and job coach.
  • Off-Site Job Placement: Beginning 2nd quarter of the senior year, students have the opportunity to leave school following their academic classes to go to work. Students may have the opportunity to start their field experience earlier if approved by their instructor.
  • Early Work Release: Juniors or Seniors who are working in their MCCC career field may be eligible to leave school at 2:05 to be at work on time.

Student protocol for all work-based learning experiences are as follows:

  • Have a good discipline record.
  • Attend school regularly.
  • Be in good academic standing (a “C” or better in all academic classes and a “B” in lab).

If the above requirements are met, interested students need to:

  • Secure employment within the industry they are studying at the MCCC.
  • Complete and return a Training Agreement to Real-World Learning Coordinator. The application MUST be filled out. The application requires a signature from the student, their parent or guardian, their employer and the career technical instructor.
  • The career technical instructor must visit the student’s place of employment and complete a Site Safety Check Form each year. The completed form is submitted to the Real-World Learning Coordinator for final approval.
  • Once the job placement is approved, a pass stating the student’s dismissal time (or, in the case of afternoon labs, arrival time) will be provided to the student.

Student responsibilities while on placement:

  • Work a minimum of 12.5 hours each week.
  • Submit timesheet to career technical instructor weekly. If timesheets are NOT turned in for two consecutive weeks, the student will be pulled off placement.
  • Be a good employee (on time, stay on task, etc.) and continue to stay in good academic standing, have a good discipline record and attend school regularly. If these requirements are not met, the student will lose their work-based learning privilege.

Please note the following criteria:
Grades are checked at the beginning of the paperwork process when placing students. Allow three weeks into a new quarter when assessing at the beginning of a quarter. Reference the previous quarter’s grades if assessing a student at the beginning of a quarter.

Once students are on placement:
Grades should be checked on the 1st and 15th of each month. If a student falls below these requirements, there will be a one-week grace period for the student to improve/create an improvement plan. If improvement is not shown, the student is removed from placement and good academic standing will have to be maintained for two consecutive weeks before being eligible to return to placement.

MCCC students can gain hands-on experience by working in the career field they are studying while during the summer between their junior and senior year. 

Students reaching 160 hours during their employment will be awarded one (1) credit, while those reaching 80 hours will receive one-half (.5) credit for work-based learning hours.Employers agree to hire a MCCC student intern for the summer. Hours vary depending on employer needs and resources. The students internship must be related to their career major.

Student interns are assigned a job coach from MCCC. This is typically their instructor. Job coaches meet with employers prior to the student starting the internship to review program goals, paperwork and contact information. Job coaches are available throughout the internship to serve as a resource for both the employer and the student. The job coach is required to visit the site two times throughout the internship to check on student progress.

Students can work as many hours as deemed appropriate. A minimum of 80 hours (total throughout the length of the internship) is required for a student to earn ½ work study credit and 160 hours is required to earn 1 work study credit.

In September, a Summer Internship Celebration Dinner is held at MCCC for all participating employers, interns and their parents, as well as job coaches.

Employer Benefits

  • Find and test future talent
  • Increase productivity
  • Enhance perspective and potentially gain new ideas
  • Help keep talent in our region
  • Give back to the community and support students

Student Benefits

  • Gain real-world experience
  • Develop personal and professional skills
  • Increase your knowledge of the industry you are studying
  • Make connections within your career field
  • Earn a paycheck and school credit simultaneously

Pre-Apprenticeship teaches basic technical and job readiness skills for a designated apprentice occupation or industry cluster to prepare students for a formal Registered Apprenticeship training program.

Advantages of MCCC Pre-Apprenticeship

  • Creates an additional Graduation Pathway for students.
  • Provides a relevant 12-point Industry Recognized Credential for every program.
  • Fulfills the new Work-Based Learning 250-hour requirement
  • Allows for an additional path for students to earn College Credit and/or reduces the number of hours needed in registered apprenticeships. Ex. Vision Care Program
  • Strengthens Partnerships with employers.
  • Creates a Well Rounded Employable Student through the completion of Workplace Success.
  • Reported on MCCC’s State Report Card.
  • Enhances program Credibility for parents and employers.
  • Generates additional Marketing Tools for the Enrollment Team.

Criteria for completion of MCCC’s Pre-Apprenticeship program

  • Student work experience provided by one or more of the following experts: career technical instructor, advisory board members, local employers, community members, and/or business partners.
  • Student participated in career technical-based activities such as job shadowing, simulated workplace experiences, internships, field trips, guest speakers, and/or capstone projects.
  • Student completed over 600 contact hours of related instruction and received a passing grade in their career technical major.
  • Student must be able to perform essential functions of their trade with or without reasonable accommodations.
  • Student passed the Workplace Success course for junior and senior year.

Additional advantages to a student who completes a pre-apprenticeship program

  • Articulates to Post-Secondary/Journeyperson status.
  • Promotes credibility for an employer who is hiring interns/high school students.
  • Provides an opportunity to connect what students learn in the classroom to a real-world job.
  • Increases the high school choices for students and upon successful completion, a student may receive advanced placement in a registered apprenticeship or in a college program.
  • Learns skills and behaviors that promote success as an apprentice.
  • Completion of a pre-apprenticeship allows students to be more marketable and employable.