The Guild System

The GIP’s current students are developing advanced skills in the use of numerous software packages and technologies. As part of the apprentice review system, each student is tracked with a list of capabilities and expertise. This report is part of their annual review submitted to Human Resources. As students gain expertise in software and equipment, they become more and more responsible for mentoring lower-level apprentices. This mentorship is also tracked as part of the annual review.

The student-to-student transfer of the body of knowledge gained by training in the GIP is a valuable component in our model. In many cases, the only way for this information to cycle within the program is through student mentorship of other apprentices.

The transfer of the body of knowledge gained while training in the GIP is a very valuable component of the program.   In many cases, the only way for this information to be kept within the program is through the mentorship training of younger apprentices.

The GIP, as part of the Center for Environment and Society, operates as a tradecraft guild with the mission of training Washington College students through experiential learning opportunities, with which they can advance their tradecraft of geospatial technology. They also work to build other, equally important guild skills within this structure, such as marketing, communication, and web development, to name just a few. All guild members receive an hourly wage based on their guild standing. These wages are provided by customers of the guild, from non-profit groups to for-profit corporations to local, state, and government organizations. Guild members pride themselves on providing our customers with the highest quality products and the best customer service possible. Since all guild members have the potential to deal directly with customers, the guild operates in a professional and business-appropriate manner at all times.

The GIP Guild builds upon the fine traditions of our founders, William Smith and George Washington. Both of these gentlemen were also surveyors and mapmakers. William Smith, who founded the College, taught these arts to our earliest students. It was considered a fundamental skill that the next generation of young Americans would need to successfully lead our great nation into its future. George Washington himself started his own surveying company at the age of sixteen. We follow in his tradition by working with our own students and with K-12 schools across the nation to teach these important skills.

 

Organizational Structure

Junior Apprentice

  This position is a entry level to the GIP, for individuals with minimal skills.

 

Apprentice I

 This position is for individuals with moderate skills. Proficiency in at least one software package or task is required.

 

Senior Apprentice   

  This position is for individuals with moderate skills. Proficiency in two or more software packages and tasks is required.

 

Journeyman Leader

 This position is for individuals with more advanced skills and some leadership qualities.

 (Leader) This position is for individual with more advanced skills who has displayed leadership ability.

 

Junior Apprentice

 

The successful applicant will report to the Washington College GIP Director and be located in the GIP office in Chestertown, Maryland. Primary duties will include data entry and creation, map creation, spatial analysis, and the updating and maintenance of existing databases.

 

The student intern assists in entering data into databases and creating maps and other related analysis products for the Geospatial Innovation Program. The intern will work with multiple disparate datasets, many of which are not currently in suitable format for analysis with GIS, and must be able to understand and adapt to new datasets while keeping all project information current and organized to ensure accessibility to others. The student intern must utilize sound judgement, follow oral and written instructions, and present an overall professional appearance while working in the lab.

 

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Access, Excel and databases is helpful.
  • Ability to work independently and in a team environment, establish methodology to complete a project, and produce final products within a given timeframe.
  • Ability to pass a Maryland and FBI criminal records background check within 30 days of employment.
  • This position is a entry level to the Geospatial Innovation Program, for individuals with minimal skills. This person will generally be put into training and will perform very simple tasks under the supervision of staff member or a Journeyman Leader.

 

Apprentice I

 

The successful applicant will report to the Washington College GIP Director and be located in the GIP office in Chestertown, Maryland. Primary duties will include data entry and creation, map creation, spatial analysis, and the updating and maintenance of existing databases.

 

The student intern assists in entering data into databases and creating maps and other related analysis products for the Geospatial Innovation Program. The intern will work with multiple disparate datasets, many of which are not currently in suitable format for analysis with GIS, and must be able to understand and adapt to new datasets while keeping all project information current and organized to ensure accessibility to others. The student intern must utilize sound judgement, follow oral and written instructions, and present an overall professional appearance while working in the lab.

 

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Access, Excel and databases is helpful.
  • Ability to work independently and in a team environment, establish methodology to complete a project, and produce final products within a given timeframe.
  • Ability to pass a Maryland and FBI criminal records background check within 30 days of employment.
  • This position is for individuals with moderate skills. Proficiency in at least one software package or task is required.

 

 

Senior Apprentice 

 

The successful applicant will report to the Washington College GIP Director and be located in the GIP office in Chestertown, Maryland. Primary duties will include data entry and creation, map creation, spatial analysis, and the updating and maintenance of existing databases.

 

The student intern assists in entering data into databases and creating maps and other related analysis products for the Geospatial Innovation Program. The intern will work with multiple disparate datasets, many of which are not currently in suitable format for analysis with GIS, and must be able to understand and adapt to new datasets while keeping all project information current and organized to ensure accessibility to others. The student intern must utilize sound judgement, follow oral and written instructions, and present an overall professional appearance while working in the lab.

 

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Access, Excel and databases is helpful.
  • Ability to work independently and in a team environment, establish methodology to complete a project, and produce final products within a given timeframe.
  • Ability to pass a Maryland and FBI criminal records background check within 30 days of employment.
  • This is for someone with moderate skills. Proficiency in two or more software packages and tasks is required.

 

 

Journeyman Leader

 

The successful applicant will report to the Washington College GIP Director and be located in the GIP office in Chestertown, Maryland. Primary duties will include: data entry and creation, mapping creation and spatial analysis along with update and maintenance of databases. All work will be under the supervision of the GIP Project Manager or Analyst II.  The position has the ability to be extended.

 

The position of student intern assists in entering data into databases, creating maps and other related analysis products for the Geospatial Innovation Program.  The position will work with multiple disparate datasets, many of which are not currently in a suitable format for analysis with GIS, and must have the ability to understand and adapt to new datasets while keeping all project information current and organized to assure accessibility to others.  The student intern must utilize sound judgment; follow oral and written instruction and present an overall professional appearance while working in the lab.

 

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Access, Excel and databases is helpful.
  • Ability to work independently and in a team environment, establish methodology to complete a project, and produce final products within a given timeframe.
    Ability to pass a Maryland and FBI criminal records background check within 30 days of employment.
  • This position is for individuals with moderate skills. Proficiency in two or more software packages and tasks is required.
  • The student must be able to work independently and lead a team of other students toward completion of a project. In order to achieve Journeyman Leader status, the student must have either taken the Introduction to GIS and Intermediate GIS courses, or have shown exceptional expertise in the required software.