Electric Boat introduces Associates Degree for Design Apprentices

Electric Boat and the MDA-UAW have reached an agreement with Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) to offer design apprentices an Associates Degree program in Ship Systems Design Technology.

"This is a win-win-win situation for the company, the union and the employees who participate in the program," said Bob Nardone, VP-HR & Administration.  "It results from our strong relationship with the MDA-UAW and will enable us to invest today in the leadership Electric Boat will require in the future."

The program is being offered to current EB design apprentices who have successfully completed the apprentice curriculum.  MMA is reviewing this curriculum and will award academic credit for courses and work assignments.  Additionally, MMA will conduct eight courses to fulfill the remaining academic requirements for an AS degree.

MMA will present the courses from its Castine, Maine, campus using its video teleconferencing (VTC) capabilities.  EB program participants will attend these courses on company time, with EB picking up the costs for tuition administrative fees, classrooms with VTC capabilities and Internet access.

"The opportunity for our apprentices to earn an Associates Degree further strengthens the capabilities of our design force," said former MDA-UAW President Mel Olsson.  "This couldn't have been accomplished without the close working relationship between the company, the union, and MMA."

President Olsson continued to comment that the response has been overwhelmingly positive.  "I would say 90 percent of the eligible candidates, or more, were interested in signing up for the program.  Hopes are that the college will offer two, possibly three classes next semester, and I would like to see it expanded even beyond that."

EB spokesman Neil D. Ruenzel said the company does not offer any similar program for its trades workers, in part because it has been about a decade since it was hiring anyone into a shipyard apprentice program, but also because the program for designers is modeled after a similar degree program offered at Bath Iron Works, which like EB is a subsidiary of General Dynamics.

Visit their website today for more details www.mainemaritime.edu