6/17/24 - Program Director Roy Fua and Dr. Kamo Koloi talk with 93KHJ's Joey Cummings about the Strengthening Institution Program. The SIP Program (Strengthening Institution Program), funded by a 5-year grant award by the USDOE to ASCC's Vocational Trade and Technology Department, will help to connect the Apprentice Workforce Development (AWD); Pre-Apprentice Certificate; Internship programs with key ASG partners together with SIP Remedial English and Math program Tutors, Mentors and Counselors. Together the aim is to better prepare young students to American Samoa’s workforce agencies and the private business sector. Target audience are graduates 2024, who are planning to attend ASCC in the Fall semester.
Registration will be on July 24 to July 26. Classes will start July 1 at ASCC.
Contact:
- Roy Fua 252-5692
- Dr. Kamo Koloi @ 258-9420
Joey: 93KHJ American Samoa's Best Music Mix, Mr. Joey in the studio. But I assure you, I am not alone. I always come with friends. Today in the studio, I have Tupua Roy Fua and Doctor Kamo Koloi. Good morning guys. Good morning.
Kamo: Morning, Joey.
Joey: Hey, I'm so glad to have you today. Because, you know, whenever we're talking about Monday fever, like, people have the, you know. Oh, I had too much gravy for Father's Day, and you're feeling a little down, like, what did you eat yesterday?
Kamo: Well, yesterday was all pork or pork, Joey.
Joey: Okay. All right. And you? Roy.
Roy: Vegetarian food.
Joey: Okay. There's nothing wrong with that. But. But you know, it's Father's Day. You eat a little too much, you wake up on Monday and you feel a little grumpy. And when you feel a little grumpy, you feel like you want to complain about some things. Like, maybe American Samoa doesn't have enough this or enough of that, or maybe enough opportunities. And that's why I'm glad that you are here today to tell us about the Strengthening Institutions program. Yeah. So good morning and take it away, guys. Tell us what's going over at the college.
Roy: Well, the CIP Strengthening Institution program is a program that will help high school graduates go into a pre-apprentice programs, getting them ready for the workforce. You know, not everybody is ready for academia, but the workforce is really growing and classes are filling up.
Joey: Yeah, it's it's a big one. Sometimes we forget that there is a result that happens after the books, and that's the the real work. Yeah. And and tell us more about the program. Where is it, how is it and, and and where do we find out?
Kamo: So the program will be at the American Samoa Community College. And registration will begin on June 24th, 25 and 26. And then on the 27th, they will be able to pick up their packages.
Joey: And when you're talking about packages, you're talking about the apprenticeship, workforce development stuff that they're going to do. And what is that?
Kamo: Okay. Part of the apprenticeship. Well, we don't have a reseller here. He's the one who's in charge for the apprenticeship. But part of this CIP is that we are also offering a tutorial service. This tutorial service will be will help the students, those who are attending to enroll in fall 2024 this year, those who are graduating, who graduated this year. These tutorial service will help them with their placement tests. Entering ACC so these tutorial servers will also be offered during this time of the program.
Joey: And that's a four week program.
Kamo: Yes. It's a four week program. Four weeks program. It will end on July 26th. And after these tutorial services for the placement test, where as the kids will also these these kids before you enter college, they will have to see the placement. But those who will take this tutorial program will probably have a slight advantage in taking these placement. After the four weeks. These are the kids that are enrolled will be able to take the placement for entering ACC this coming fall.
Joey: I love it. When we were talking before the interview, you said that all of this is about better preparing young students to enter American Samoa's workforce. Give us give us more on that.
Roy: Well, you know, when they come to the college, you're thinking, oh my God, another four years of high school core work. And so they are beginning to realize that there are vocational programs out there that actually pay good money when you complete the course, like welding home electronics, there's an OSHA class, which is very important auto mechanics and carpentry. They can get into these fields and get a good basic knowledge of the programs so that when if they are hired into any of the agencies, they don't go there just completely blank. They go there with some skills. Yeah.
Joey: Yeah. That's that's it. Tell us, where do we go if we, if we're personally interested or we know somebody that that should get involved? What do we do? Who do we talk to.
Roy: Well right now this pre placement four week course that we're offering in July. First it well number one it's free. You know you don't have to pay. Just come in. Register on those dates that Doctor Carlos mentioned. Register join the program. And when you take the placement those that go through a program like this that's been shown that there are scores a little higher. So once they finish that, there are counselors and tutors that will help them find their path, which one they want to start. Somebody says to me, well, I want. Welding. And I want carpentry. Well, start with one. And then when you finish it, the four week are the semester certificate. They'll get a certificate, by the way, at the end of this pre-apprentice program. And then they can get into the full blown degree program in within A.S. degree.
Joey: Thank you guys. Is there anything else you want to add?
Kamo: Yes. Joey, I just want to remind the students registration will be on these three days. And please, if you do come registration at OCC at the MPC building, please bring along a copy of your diploma just for verification, and will help you register for your tutorial services and also the classes that are offered within the four weeks.
Joey: There it is. Appreciate it. Roy, thank you for coming to visit today.
Kamo: Thank you, thank you.
Joey: All right, Dr. Kamo, appreciate you.
Kamo: Thank you, thank you Joey.
Joey: All right guys, it's 93KHJ.
