Intersect With Earl July 2023

by Earl Buford on Jul 17, 2023

DEI debates don't disrupt our focus: With only 6% of college students attending institutions with an acceptance rate less than 25%, as the New York Times notes, the recent affirmative action debate is something of a moot point for most students. It's a reminder that CAEL's mission is anything but. Our work to improve the quality of the broader education-employment ecosystem and the economic viability within it for adult and other underserved student populations has never been more important.

From governments to global industry groups, apprenticeships are increasingly becoming the 'gold standard' for improving the quality and quantity of talent pools. As our friends at SEMI point out, the diversifying power of apprenticeships will help the semiconductor industry source the 1 million new workers needed for it to reach the target of $1 trillion in annual revenue in 2030. Meanwhile, Kansas aims to become a top 25 apprenticeship state by 2025 and has passed a bipartisan bill authorizing $13 million in tax credits and grants backed by a series of convenings among employer intermediaries, workforce boards, and representatives of industry and education.

Adult learners don't lack ability and motivation, but too often, they do lack opportunity. Completing the missing link was the motivation behind the Colorado Community College System Chancellor's Summit on Adult Education. I'm proud that CAEL was able to help support the event, and thank Wilson Finch, our vice president of initiatives, for his work on the ground there.

Bonus CAEL member mention: Rockford University recently hosted its inaugural Business Summit, creating a new opportunity for the university to hear directly from regional industry leaders. The summit includes interactive workshops and other engagement that is so important for keeping educators and employers on the same page.

Grant opportunity: The National Institute of Corrections plans to award up to $1 million for a 12-month project to kick off in September to 'provide practitioners with the knowledge and skills to facilitate the (blended) Evidence-Based Workforce Development Training Series as a member of a national training team supporting the workforce development and reentry efforts of justice-involved adults.' Institutions of higher education are among the organizations eligible for the grant. Apply by July 31

Interested in learning more about CAEL memberships? Please visit us, and always feel free to contact us with questions or comments on any topic at cael@cael.org.