Below is a suggested program of work for college/postsecondary chapters.

Membership
To have a chapter and perform activities, students must join SkillsUSA, elect officers and hold meetings. Members are students in career and technical programs and classes on campus.

Technical Skill Development/Championships
Technical learning occurs within the class or lab. The SkillsUSA Championships or competitions allow students to test their technical skills against their peers and industry standards.

Leadership Development
Developing leaders and responsible American citizens is the fundamental goal of SkillsUSA. Through campus activities managed and led by students, professional and leadership skills develop. Members can conduct campus wide professional development activities. They can participate in local, state and national leadership conferences, and participate in the Career Skills Education Program, an online curriculum.

Community Service*
Community service plays a large part in developing leaders and a positive image of career and technical education. It also promotes character development for students. Consider a campus-wide project.

Service Learning*
Service Learning is where SkillsUSA happens directly within the program through experiential learning at a new level.

What is Service Learning?
Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.

Service Learning:

• Promotes learning through active participation
• Provides structured time for students to reflect
• Provides an opportunities to use skills and knowledge in real-life situations
• Extends learning beyond the classroom
• Fosters a sense of caring for others
• Benefits the student and the community
• Is a graded project/part of the curriculum

Service Learning projects involve students in:

• Environments supplement their education
• Opportunities to build workplace skills
• Communication and networking
• Awareness of community needs

Service Learning is not:

• An episodic volunteer program
• An add-on to an existing school or college curriculum
• Completing minimum service hours to graduate
• Service assigned as a form of punishment
• One-sided, benefiting only students or only the community

Training in Service Learning is available. See this section or telephone us at 703-777-8810.

*SkillsUSA is an official certifying organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Documented community service and service learning hours are eligible. See this link for more information.