A direct path to the trades

For years, students entering the workforce often faced a choice: pursue a college degree or go straight into the trades. For Juan Sosa, a Doña Ana Community College student studying HVAC, that divide is starting to fade. 

“It used to be either you go to school or a trade,” Sosa said. “Now it’s the best of both worlds.”  

A new partnership between DACC and UA Local 412 is designed to bring those two paths together, allowing students to earn college credit while working toward a union apprenticeship. The program connects classroom training directly with job opportunities in the trades, creating a clearer route into high-demand careers. 

Through the agreement, students in programs such as HVAC can apply their coursework toward apprenticeship requirements, while union apprentices can simultaneously work toward an associate degree. The collaboration removes some of the traditional barriers between education and employment while strengthening the local workforce. DACC instructor Keith Gatalo said the effort comes at a time when skilled labor is in short supply. 

“There’s what we call a skills gap,” Gatalo said. “We need somebody to fill that spot.”  

That demand is driven by both evolving technology and an aging workforce, leaving employers searching for trained workers to step in. By aligning education with industry needs, the partnership creates a more direct pipeline into those roles. 

“This creates that pathway to go from school into the industry,” Gatalo said.  

For students like Sosa, that pathway offers something that previously felt uncertain: structure. Without the partnership, he said, graduates would often finish their degree and then navigate the job search on their own. Now, connections to employers and apprenticeship opportunities are built into the process. 

“Now there’s help, opportunity, potential and structure,” Sosa said. “Instead of having to figure it out yourself.”  

That added support can shape a student’s future, particularly for those returning to school or entering the trades later in life. Sosa, who is in his second semester, said the program has already changed how he views his career path. 

“It just overall has the opportunity to alter my academic trajectory and also career path,” he said.  

Beyond individual outcomes, the partnership is expected to benefit the region by preparing students for well-paying, in-demand jobs. Gatalo noted that many who complete apprenticeships go on to earn competitive wages, with opportunities to advance into leadership or specialized roles. 

By combining hands-on training with academic coursework, the program reflects a shift in how career pathways are being built—one that connects education with employment rather than separating the two.  

For Sosa, that connection represents a clearer path forward.