Consortium members will enhance the ability of the colleges to meet manufacturers' skill needs by adopting the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) certification model. NAM-endorsed certifications are industry-recognized credentials that validate individuals have demondtrated skills in specific areas of manufacturing. Consurtium partners will implement and awakrd stakable/latticed NAM-Endorsed certifications for manufacturing in five occupational clusters. In addition to occupational skill certifications, all students will earn a National Career Readiness Certification Plus (NCRC+) credential. Critical project components include: Maximizing assessment and award of credit for prior learning; Collaborating to incorporate NAM-endorsed certification skill competencies into core curricula; Accelerating learning to shorten classroom time through redesign of curricula and use of technology; Developing opportunities for work-based learning and paid internships; Integrating basic skills remediation in occupational skill training; Providing professional development to faculty; and Locating College Navigators at one-stop career centers.