Ready to Accelerate My Pathway(RAMP UP)

Project Overview:

The RAMP UP (Ready to Accelerate My Pathway) project serves the High Desert and Inland Empire Regions of Southern California stretching from San Bernardino to Barstow and Lucerne Valley to Lancaster. This region is among the least educated and lowest income regions in the state. While unemployment is high, several pockets of opportunity exist for high skill, high wage jobs. RAMP UP focuses on seamless career technical training programs that start in high school, continue through college and result in jobs within five career pathways: Automotive / Diesel Maintenance, Aviation Maintenance, Energy and Utilities including Renewable Energy Technology, Healthcare, and Manufacturing and Forming. The cornerstone of the RAMP UP project is a network of teleconferencing classrooms that will facilitate cooperative classes and virtual workplace learning experiences for students within the region characterized by substantial distances between schools and employer sites.

RAMP UP will fuel greater collaboration among educators and employers to increase the attainment of industry-recognized certifications that are required for employment in local industries. Participating schools will focus on improving alignment of regional curriculum to streamline the educational path for students and promoting student engagement through workplace experiences and career technical student organizations. Regional industry advisory councils will maximize the participation of pathway employers by reducing duplicitous meetings that currently take place at each individual school site and promoting a shared understanding of the competencies required for success in the workplace.

Major Partnerships:

The consortium includes five community colleges, 19 high schools, 4 charter schools, and dozens of employers. In addition to Victor Valley College, the RAMP UP Project will include Antelope Valley College, Barstow Community College, Crafton Hills College, and San Bernardino Valley College. Participating High School Districts include Antelope Valley, Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia, Lucerne Valley, San Bernardino City, South Kern County, Snowline, Victor Valley, and Yucaipa-Calimesa. Charter Schools involved in the consortium include Excelsior Education Centers, The Lewis Center and The Palmdale Aerospace Academy. Employers from all five pathways have already signed on to support the effort with more expected to join the RAMP UP effort as it unfolds.

Contact:

Amber Allen
Victor Valley College
amber.allen@vvc.edu
(760) 245 – 4271, ext. 2934