This session explores how Harper College developed one of the earliest registered insurance apprenticeship models in the United States, beginning in 2016 through the American Apprenticeship Initiative grant in partnership with industry leaders such as Zurich North America. Over the past decade, the program has served more than 630 apprentices, with over 220 completing the insurance program, demonstrating strong completion and employment outcomes. Participants will learn how faculty, deans, and industry partners collaborated to design curriculum, build related instruction, and create a scalable talent pipeline in a new and emerging industry space. The presentation will also highlight how this early model helped inform broader employer-led efforts such as the Chicago Apprentice Network, where Zurich played a founding role in advancing apprenticeship adoption across industries. Finally, it will showcase how Zurich North America has designated Harper College as a national provider for multiple associate degree apprenticeship pathways.
