License Agreement

WoodLINKS® USA

Site License Agreement

(2011-2012 School Year)

The WoodLINKS® USA industry-education partnership is a unique program that assists schools in providing relevant, industry-supported, broad-based career education to secondary and Post-secondary school students. Students who successfully complete the program receive international, industry-recognized, certification. Industry and educators throughout the US and Canada recognize WoodLINKS® USA as a leading-edge example of industry-education cooperation that helps students get jobs and helps industry access potential employees with an appropriate educational foundation.

The WoodLINKS® USA courses (Introduction – IWPM – and Advanced Wood Products Manufacturing – AWPM) provide students with a broad-based set of skills that is required by the value-added wood products manufacturing industry and that is directly transferable to the manufacturing sector in general. A growing number of employers and post-secondary institutions recognize the courses and the resulting certification as a minimum entrance requirement.

1. WoodLINKS® USA offers curriculum guidelines and resource materials for delivery in US schools under a licensing agreement. The Site License Levels and Annual Maintenance Fee terms are as follows:

“Apprentice” Level (Tier 1): $1,000 + $250 annual maintenance fee (paid from year 2 on)

WoodLINKS® USA Curriculum Guidelines & Sub-Sectors
Student Certification
School listed on the WoodLINKS® USA website
WCA Evaluator Training fee waived for instructors ($300 value)
Access to Skill Standard certification at reduced cost for students
Access to regional and national in-services
Guidance with developing industry partners and fundraising
Shared dialogue with other schools, post-secondary education, and industry associations
Teaching aids to help facilitate the WoodLINKS® USA curriculum
Assistance setting up marketing tools & newsletters for your program

“Journeyman” Level (Tier 2): $2,500 + $250 annual maintenance fee (paid from year 2 on):

All benefits from Tier 1 membership, plus:
Access to Madison College’s online Teaching Resources
Tradeshow travel and lodging assistance for a single National teacher In-service – AWFS or IWF (provided funding is available)
Access to the “Essentials” donation package (up to $250 annually from each of the following suppliers: Bessey (Clamps) Titebond (adhesives), Quickscrews (fasteners), Veneer Tech (veneer) and Fastcap (woodworking tools & supplies)
Ability to attend training at reduced cost at Stiles Machinery training facilities
Eligible to be considered for Teacher of the Year Award
Eligible to nominate partners for Industry Partner of the Year Award

“Master” Level (Tier 3): $5000 + $250 annual maintenance fee (paid from year 2 on)

All benefits from Tier 1&2 membership, plus:
Tradeshow travel and lodging assistance for National In-services (provided funding is available)
Access to entire donation package (up to $230,000 in software, machinery and materials, including but not limited to: Microvellum, Veneer Tech, Standard Tools & Equipment, SCM, Quickscrews, Planit, Franklin International, Forest Products Society, eCabinet Systems, AWFS, Hafele America, Festool, Fastcap, Courmatt International, Colonial Saw/Lamello, The Cabinetmaker’s Association, Art CAM, Vector Art 3D, Autodesk, and Stiles Machinery).
Opportunity to receive industry donations of equipment (when available)

Note: Schools can begin membership at the Apprentice level and upgrade as funding becomes available to higher membership levels by paying the difference in membership rates. Any school which does not pay their annual maintenance fee by December 31^st of a given year must pay $500 to re-enter the program ($250 to re-license plus the $250 annual maintenance fee).

The donation package, along with updated curriculum info and certification services, are developed and maintained by the national office of WoodLINKS® USA through the help of the $250 annual maintenance fee. The donation package is intended to stretch the teacher’s budget.

2. WoodLINKS® USA Certification

Examination / Certification Fee $50 (Plus applicable taxes) per student per level

WoodLINKS® USA program courses, Introduction to Wood Products Manufacturing and Advanced Wood Products Manufacturing, are delivered as intermediate – senior school courses. Students receive in-school credit for these courses based on assessment standards at each individual school.

WoodLINKS® USA certification is awarded to those students who achieve a mark of 70% or better from the combined evaluation of the teacher (60%) and the WL USA assessment tools (40%). The WL USA assessment tools consist of a written final examination and a Practical Skills CheckLIST.

WoodLINKS® USA ensures:

production and delivery of WoodLINKS® USA assessment tools to the teacher;

production and delivery of student certificates;

Maintenance and updating of examination database.

3. WoodLINKS® USA Resources

WL USA has compiled a selection of resource materials that support curriculum delivery. A complete list is available on the Teachers Resource DVD.

4. WoodLINKS® USA Operating Guidelines

WL USA supports the program delivery model that best meets the needs of students in each school. The principle objective of WoodLINKS® USA is to ensure consistent delivery of the learning outcomes to all students and to award certification to those students who achieve the industry standard.

In support of this objective, registered schools:

assess student progress with the WoodLINKS® USA assessment tools;

report student data to WoodLINKS® USA, as required, in support of the program;

maintain working partnerships with one or more industry partners if available.

Both courses are required for full WoodLINKS® USA certification. Each school determines actual delivery methods for the courses.

Schools report to WL USA by October 15 of each year, to determine how many examinations are required by the school. An updated report is required for second semester schools by February 15 of each year. Examinations are forwarded to the school two weeks before the scheduled examination date. Certification fees assessed are based on the number of examinations sent to the school.

5. WoodLINKS® USA Site Reporting Requirements

Must be certifying by 3-4 year starting from the Site License Fee first payment.
Must supply National Director with the number of students in their program each year.
Must supply National Director with number of students who certified each year.
Must supply National Director with number students going to work industry with industries contact information each year.
Must supply national director with number of students going into post-secondary wood education institutions and contact info of institution each year.
Must supply national director with number of students working in internships.
Must be current on Site License payment schedule.

If these guidelines are not followed WoodLINKS® USA cannot guarantee the delivery of all stated teacher resources.

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