The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) has made a strong commitment to building partnerships with business and industry. CCRI's first customized training program was developed in 1982 with the National Tooling and Machine Association (NTMA), and was designed to enable apprentice machinists to receive the classroom training required to earn a journeyman's certificate while simultaneously earning credit toward an associate in applied science degree. Following the success of the CCRI/NTMA program, the college entered into agreements to develop programs with other major Rhode Island Companies, including General Dynamics Corporation's Electric Boat Division. The more than 100 students enrolled in the CCRI/Electric Boat Program work as apprentice welders, shipfitters, machinists, pipefitters, marine assembly machinists, and sheet metal mechanics, while receiving classroom training required for the apprenticeship and earning credit toward an associate degree. For the most part, the employees' needs did not fit into existing CCRI degree programs. To remedy this, the college requested and received approval for a new degree program for an Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies (AASTS). The AASTS allows students to earn an associate degree in 3 years without being limited to concentrating on predetermined technical fields. Students attend some classes at the CCRI campus and others at the company facility, with the company paying full tuition and the cost of books and supplies. (EJV)