By Jennifer Gonzalez
Reprinted from the Chronicle of Higher Education

The apprenticeship system, long considered an educational relic by some educators and policy makers, is gaining new attention as a promising model for improving job skills and meeting national college-completion goals.

A number of states and community and technical colleges are working to strengthen and expand apprenticeship opportunities. They offer participants a paycheck while taking courses and being trained for an occupation. Traditional trades, such as construction and manufacturing, continue to draw the most students, but newer industries, such as travel, health care, and information technology, have also begun to take part in apprenticeship programs, broadening their appeal.