Terry Nathan News

Roger Williams University & IYRS partner on program to offer IYRS graduates credits toward degree programs. As part of a strategy to offer students a direct pathway from experiential training programs focused on craftsmanship and technical skills to a comprehensive college education that results in an associate or bachelor’s degree, Roger Williams University and marine trades and technology school IYRS have joined forces on a partnership that will allow IYRS graduates to apply elective credits toward degree programs offered at the University’s School of Continuing Studies.

IYRS, a trade school based in Rhode Island, showcases its educational programs at the largest in-water boat shows in America. The school trains students in highly technical and craft-oriented wood and composites construction, as well as in the installation and maintenance of modern systems used on boats. In an era when many college students are graduating with high debt and slim job prospects, IYRS is experiencing record popularity. The school accepted its largest incoming class this fall, and some 30% of the students are military veterans and recent High School grads who are choosing IYRS as their route to sustainable careers. The school is at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, from October 4-8 and at the U.S. Powerboat Show from October 11-14.

When guests arrived at IYRS Annual Summer Gala--the annual fundraiser for this Rhode Island marine trades and technology school--they came ready for a great party. But the crowd of gala-goers also gathered at this waterfront school for a reason that runs far deeper than a good time through this maritime community: to celebrate the craftsmanship of IYRS students and graduates and ensure continued opportunity for the generation to follow. The exhibits and film told the story of a school that has evolved since the first students walked through the doors in 1997.