Member Matters February 2025

A Monthly Lookback at Some of the Good Work in the CAEL Membership Community

Hands-On Learning
Kwantlen Polytechnic University is boosting credit for prior learning opportunities through the KPU Flex initiative, which offers applicants free portfolio reviews for qualifying programs (KPU).

The new compressor mechanic training program at West Virginia Northern Community College offers students the opportunity to train on industry-standard equipment donated by several employers in the high-demand field (WVNCC).

The first apprenticeship program for surgical technologists in Oregon has launched at Umpqua Community College, where it will help address a challenging workforce shortage (UCC).

The Future Leaders in Manufacturing program at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is addressing local talent needs by connecting students with employment opportunities while enrolled, offering them not only wages but valuable workplace experiences and, in some cases, tuition reimbursement (UW-Green Bay).

Doing Good With Grants
Build Better Careers, made possible by a $15.7 million grant from Truist Foundation, has expanded to its fourth region, the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia area, where it will support Employ Prince George's, Inc.’s newly launched Equity & Economic Stability Department. Build Better Careers is dedicated to helping workers without a college degree access rewarding career pathways in high-growth sectors, such as financial services, and also serves the Memphis, Charlotte, and South Florida regions (CAEL).

Southwestern Oregon Community College has landed a $1.5 million federal Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, one of only 18 colleges in the country to receive such funding. The college will use the grant to expand workforce training in the transportation and manufacturing sectors (SWOCC).

Another of the 18 Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant recipients is West Virginia Northern Community College, which will apply its $1.5 million to the M.A.P.S. 2.0: Manufacturing and Production Skills Pathway for the 21st Century (WVNCC).

Accelerating Adult Learning
The Tempe Promise Program, at Rio Salado College, is channeling financial resources to adult learners. Supported by the city of Tempe, the program is part of a strategy to meet the city's 65% postsecondary credential completion goal for residents 25 or older (Rio Salado College).

St. John Fisher University has added a 100% online bachelor's degree in business administration "tailored to help adults return to college to complete or advance their education through an undergraduate degree experience" (St. John Fisher University).

In coordination with Saint Francis Healthcare System, Southeast Missouri State University is offering "a streamlined two-year program for working adults with technical associate degrees to advance in medical imaging" (SEMO).

Proactive Partnerships
Mississippi State University and East Mississippi Community College have forged the MSU at the Communiversity partnership. The Communiversity will offer workforce training tailored to support advanced manufacturing throughout Mississippi and is part of the broader Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program, or AiM UP (MSU).

Parkland College has launched the Parkland Workforce Collaborative, which will feature monthly meetings with employers and focus on talent pipelines, funding for worker upskilling, and more (Parkland College).

The Government of Nova Scotia is investing CAD 1.4 million to support a microelectronics research hub at Dalhousie University that will cultivate partnerships within the booming sector (Dalhousie University).

San Juan College and the state of New Mexico collaborated to create the Careers Remediating Environmental Waste, or CREW, program, which offers monthly stipends and wrapround support to students as they complete environmental cleanup training (Yahoo).

The Virginia Department of Corrections and Danville Community College are working together to enhance CTE programs at Green Rock Correctional Center. In addition to instructors, the college will provide advising services and other resources, augmenting its support of education at the center, where it has awarded more than 100 career studies certificates since fall of 2016 (Virginia Department of Corrections).

Work-Ready Credentials
Heartland Community College has added a seven-credit microcredential program to support the electric vehicle workforce. Students can complete the energy systems/charging infrastructure technician program on a standalone basis or pair it with a broader certificate credential in pursuit of an associate degree in industrial science (Heartland Community College).

In Service of Veterans
CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas and the Florida Department of Transportation offered free bootcamps to connect veterans with free training for infrastructure jobs (Tampa Free Press).

Advisors at North Dakota State University met with the North Dakota Air National Guard to discuss enhancements to the university's support of guard members. The meeting follows last year's memorandum of agreement between NDSU and the NDANG on more effectively meeting research, service, educational, and workforce needs in North Dakota (NDSU).

The University of Akron is launching Operation Teach, a program to help military personnel and their spouses enter teaching careers following military service. The program addresses challenging teacher shortages and is supported by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (UA).

In Their Own Words
The director of strategic partnerships and continuing and professional education at Middle Georgia State University discussed the university's employer partnerships and supporting the regional workforce (Middle Georgia CEO).

The president of Indiana State University commented about his first six months and the priority of forging connections with industry (Inside Indiana Business).

Additional Achievements and Awards
The president of Lorain County Community College joins 17 other inaugural members of the Natcast National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) Workforce Advisory Board (WFAB), a reflection of "LCCC's pioneering efforts in preparing talent for the fast-growing semiconductor industry" (LCCC).

Wayne State College generated more than $573 million in income and supported nearly 8,000 jobs throughout Nebraska in fiscal year 2022-23, according to an economic impact study, which also found that for every dollar invested in students' education at WSC, they can anticipate $4.90 in improved earnings over their lifetime, yielding an average annual return of 17% (WSC).