New Waubonsee program to offer carpentry degrees

The Waubonsee Community College board approved adding a construction technology apprenticeship degree program Wednesday night.

The board approved the measure without asking questions or discussing it.

According to a news release distributed after the meeting, it will be an associate in applied science degree, administered with the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters. The council is a regional unit of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America union.

People who complete the council's four-year apprenticeship program will earn 45 college credits.

They will combine that with at least 15 semester hours of instruction in communications, the humanities, mathematics, physical science and social and behavioral science.

The program will accept students this fall.

In 2014, Waubonsee joined the Registered Apprenticeship-College Consortium, which is an initiative of the federal departments of labor and education.

The degree will be offered within the college's Division of Business and Career Technologies.