SF president joins Washington round-table for apprenticeships discussion
May 12, 2026
Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie II was invited to the nation’s capital April 30 for a round-table discussion on “Building Pathways to Degree-Connected Apprenticeships.” The discussion was in connection to the celebration of National Apprenticeship week.
Joining the discussion were members of the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Education, industry partners and other higher education leaders, with the objective of reducing complexity and barriers, amplifying best practices, and building the awareness about the importance and value of apprenticeships.
The conversation featured featuring opening remarks by Assistant Labor Secretary Henry Mack and remarks by Under Secretary Nicholas Kent.
“It was good to see teams from the Labor and Education departments working closely together,” Broadie said. “They are connecting education to outcomes.”
Moreover, “Santa Fe College having a seat at the table for these discussions demonstrates the impact of our apprenticeship programs. I want to thank Assistant Secretary Mack for giving us the opportunity to take part in these discussions.”
SF has a robust apprenticeship program in partnership the Builder’s Association of North Central Florida. Currently the program serves more than 300 students, working toward becoming journeymen in their respective fields of electrical construction, plumbing, building maintenance repair, and heating and air conditioning. Students attend class two nights a week while working full-time for an area employer.
The conversation surrounded funding sustainability, accreditation and credentialing, breaking down siloes, better data infrastructure, and awareness leadership to include positive communication and meaningful stakeholder engagement across the national apprenticeships system.
Dr. Broadie spoke to the need for a “community groundswell of interest in [apprenticeships]” to advance this work together.
Photo by Shawn Moore, Department of Labor
