Representatives from various trade industries gather at Dutchess BOCES’ Career & Technical Institute (CTI) annually for the Trade Advisory Committee Meeting to discuss ways of providing more hands-on and real-life experiences for students with the trade instructors.
“Partnership is why we’re gathered here today, we’re here to hear from you,” Director of Career and Technical Education and Adult Education Nick Millas said. “It’s not a one-way relationship, we want to give back to you the same way you give to us.”
One component of CTI includes building and evolving programs to meet changing needs in industries with Millas highlighting how artificial intelligence will impact the trades and the importance of equipping students with new tools, procedures and technology to ensure their success. “We know that these technologies exist, but they are not here to replace anybody in this room,” Millas said of AI. “Technology is changing, systems change and our industries are changing.”
Before sending everyone off to the classrooms, Millas asked all representatives to utilize the students from the different programs for projects they may need assistance with, adding that they could become future employees. “You’re going to bring to us a problem and we’re going to help solve it,” Millas said. “Let us be the workforce for you.”
Dan Snyder, Adams Fairacre Farms’ Training and Recruiting Manager, was impressed with the Small Engines classroom and spoke with Instructor Pete Hruscik about expanding Adams’ internship program to have more CTI students be part of it. “Project-based learning is a stellar idea; it’s really cool and a great way to let students engage with real-life scenarios,” Snyder said. “We have a great internship program, I would like to see that translate to full time hires.”
Hruscik found the meeting productive as Snyder and his colleague Nicole Orce, Adams’ Human Resources Recruiter, informed him about what they expect from student interns, including bringing the proper tools to work and possessing basic skills, such as sharpening lawn mower blades. Hruscik said he plans to incorporate those lessons earlier in the school year. “I want to make sure that before I send my students there to intern that they have learned that,” Hruscik said. “We laid down the groundwork to establish a relationship with Dan and Nicole.”
Marist University’s Associate Creative Director Matt Maley has previously provided portfolio reviews and mentorships to students in Steve Lawson’s Graphic Design class, the latter of which Lawson hopes to bring back. “Industry folks agreed to meet and talk with students so they can ask questions or review a piece of work,” Lawson said. “It was a good experience for them.”
Maley said that much of the discussion centered on what has been going on in the always changing graphic design industry and how AI fits into it. He added that coming to BOCES gives students a head start in many industries. “It’s getting you used to communicating with directors and managers in a professional setting,” Maley said. “Having this type of outreach with the teachers is phenomenal.”
The representatives also witnessed project-based learning in action as some of CTI’s Culinary students cooked and served a full meal from salad to dessert for everyone.
