U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta Visits Purdue University To Discuss the Award of Apprenticeship Grants

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta discussed the award of $12 million in information technology apprenticeship grant funding to Purdue University during a visit to Purdue Polytechnic Institute, in West Lafayette, Indiana. Secretary Acosta toured the Purdue University Cyber Forensics Lab and participated in a roundtable with the Dean of Purdue Polytechnic Institute Gary Bertoline, Purdue Polytechnic Institute faculty and students, Indiana government officials, and representatives of Raytheon, FastPort, Rofori, NSCW Crane, TriStar, and Artesian Electronics.

"Today's visit highlights educators and industry partners who will join together to expand information technology apprenticeship opportunities for Indiana," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "Apprenticeships, the earning while learning models, have worked well in many American industries. By partnering with private entities, academic institutions and consortia will create pathways for American workers to learn in-demand job skills to fill millions of family-sustaining jobs.

"This grant from the U.S. Department of Labor brings Purdue Polytechnic Institute's nationally recognized cybersecurity expertise to bear on a critically important workforce shortage," said Purdue Polytechnic Institute Dean Gary Bertoline. "We are eager to get started on this new apprenticeship program as we work to create an exciting new pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals."

On June 15, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America charging the Secretary of Labor to consider establishing guidelines or requirements that qualified entities should or must follow to ensure that apprenticeship programs they recognize meet quality standards.

On June 25, 2019, the Department issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would establish a process for the U.S. Department of Labor to advance the development of high-quality, industry-recognized apprenticeship programs. The Department also announced $183.8 million in Scaling Apprenticeship Through Sector-Based Strategies grants to private-public apprenticeship partnerships in information technology, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. These grants will support the training of more than 85,000 apprentices in new or expanded apprenticeship programs.