Member Matters October 2023

Proactive Partnerships
South Mountain Community College, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and leadership representing local business sectors are collaborating around the urgency of meeting the challenges and opportunities inherent in increasing credential completion among adult learners and satisfying regional workforce needs (Queen Creek Sun Times).

Georgia Southern University, Ogeechee Technical College, and Hyundai are partnering to sustain local career pathways (WTOC).

Pikes Peak State College, where nearly half of students aspire to continue their education after completing an associate degree, is adding a Colorado State University transfer center that will allow PPSC students to do so via CSU without having to relocate (The Colorado Springs Gazette). 

Among the investment by Samsung Austin Semiconductor in the University of Texas is $1 million to the Cockrell School in support of its workforce development plan (KXAN).

The Indiana University Kelley School of Business and the Association for Financial Professionals are partnering to integrate the association's industry-treasured financial planning and analysis certification within university curricula (IU).

Schoolcraft College and the Livonia Chamber of Commerce are working together to create career pathway exploration opportunities to introduce middle school and high school students to certificates and associate degrees that lead to rewarding occupations (Schoolcraft College).

Tarrant County College and the Fort Worth Film Collaborative are offering a new workforce development certification tailored to the growing needs of the local film industry (Fort Worth Report).

Employee Education Benefits
Middle Georgia State University has joined the Amazon Career Choice program, which provides financial support for tuition and books on a prepaid basis (Middle Georgia CEO).

There are numerous benefits associated with extending education and training resources to employees. The good news is that, according to new research commissioned by DeVry University, 80 percent of employers offer them. The bad news is that only about 51 percent of employers use them overall, with barriers to skills development opportunities disproportionately affecting underserved learners (DeVry University).

Hands-on Learning
Keuka College was selected to the Work-Based Learning Consortium, an initiative of Strada Education Foundation that "weaves real-world, employer-curated projects into standard courses, providing students with crucial skills, tangible experiences, and industry connections vital for their prospective careers" (FingerLakes1.com). 

With only two craftworkers entering the workforce for every five retiring, Howard Community College's plumbing apprenticeship program, now in its second year, is drawing students interested in the opportunity to earn a salary as they accrue credits that can stack into an associate degree (Business Monthly).

Hands-on training with electric and hybrid cars is a major feature in South Central Illinois' first electric vehicle training program, offered by Kaskaskia College (Illinois Business Journal).

University of Texas at El Paso is building on its partnership with fellow Strada Collaborative member Education at Work and Discover Financial Services, which extends opportunities for students to earn a salary and valuable workplace experience on top of tuition assistance (University of Texas at El Paso).

Three Rivers College held a ribbon cutting for the new Manufacturing Tech Lab, which will offer training tailored to the workforce needs in an experiential learning environment (KBSI).

Education-Accelerated Workforce Development
Blue Mountain Community College is taking a two-pronged approach to easing language barriers in employment, offering grant-funded language courses to Spanish-speaking workers as well as supervisor counterparts (Hermiston Herald).

A 50% tuition discount is available at Community College of Vermont for select high-demand occupations, which qualifies most of the colleges certificate and degree programs (Saint Albans Messenger).

Accelerating Adult Learning
Augusta University has launched Augusta University Online, which includes arrangements to accept credits from officer training schools throughout the nation (Augusta Chronicle via Yahoo News).

Growth in students 25 and older is contributing to stable enrollment at Heartland Community College (WGLT).

Other Notes of Distinction
Bossier Parish Community College was bestowed with the CLEP® Honors Military Achievement award in recognition of outstanding CLEP exam volumes in the 2022-2023 academic year (BPCC).

El Paso Community College has been named a 2023-2024 Military Friendly® School ("Gold" designation) (El Paso Community College).

Lorain County Community College, the first community college in Ohio to boast a permanent campus, is celebrating 60 years (The Morning Journal).

During the 2021-22 academic year, The University of Toledo injected $2.8 billion into the economy (The University of Toledo).