NACTEL Adding New Employers and Degree Programs to Enhance Support of Growing Talent Needs in Critical Industry

Diversified network and program offerings creating new upskilling and reskilling pathways within communications technologies industry

INDIANAPOLIS – The National Alliance for Communications, Technology, Education and Learning (NACTEL) is expanding to include a broader range of employers in the communications technologies industry. It is also growing its suite of industry-validated education programs, which include hundreds of options ranging from microcredentials and badges to certificates and advanced degrees, all of which are tailored to the industry’s latest employment needs.

More than 2 million workers employed in the communication technologies industry are eligible for NACTEL’s online education offerings, which are critical to solving industry workforce challenges. These include ensuring new hires possess the right competencies and that incumbent employees have upskilling and reskilling opportunities within a rapidly evolving workplace.

NACTEL is a collaboration among corporations, labor unions, education providers, and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) committed to increasing access to education and training opportunities that advance careers and sustain healthy talent pipelines. The alliance includes employers such as AT&T, Frontier Communications, Lumen Technologies, Verizon, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), and Pace University.

“CAEL supports NACTEL's growth and commitment to invest in the communications workforce of the future,” said Christine Carpenter, senior vice president of engagement for CAEL. “Developing new partnerships among employers creates new opportunities for individuals to access rewarding careers in this vital industry.”

Marianne Groth, Director of Talent Development at Lumen Technologies, adds that “Expanding NACTEL’s alliance of telecommunications and technology employers scales our ability to build a next-generation workforce. Informing our education and training programs with the insight of diverse employers ensures they remain well-aligned with our industry’s needs.”

“The post-pandemic future of work is one that must emphasize preparation and proactivity over reactivity,” said Kevin Curran, International Representative, IBEW. “Focusing on identifying and developing the skills that will be needed tomorrow begins with upskilling and reskilling your employees today.”

The new education offerings include nine master’s programs such as Data Science and Homeland Security. They join a catalog of academic programs that is helping to close skills gaps, sustain talent pipelines, and drive social mobility for telecommunications and information technology employees and their families. The full list of NACTEL education programs is available at nactel.org. 

Pace University administers all academic programs available through the NACTEL partnership in a flexible online format. Curricula, which are developed by and for the industry, are taught by university faculty complemented by dedicated academic advisors to ensure students remain on pathways to career and academic success. 

All students in NACTEL programs are eligible for education programs and receive education benefits ranging from discounted tuition to employer-subsidized tuition programs. For example, a NACTEL digital badge, which offers immediate workplace value while also stacking into degree programs, is available at a discounted tuition rate to anyone employed by a NACTEL organization. Robust credit for prior learning and transfer-credit policies also help NACTEL students save time and money.

"For more than two decades, our partnership with NACTEL has enabled us to give a diverse group of distance learners access to the transformative power of higher education,” said Marvin Krislov, president of Pace University. “The new programs and partnerships will provide opportunities for even more workers to acquire and build critical skills and expertise in the rapidly evolving field of communications technology.

NACTEL welcomes a broad range of companies and organizations in the telecommunications, communications and technology industry sectors who are interested in educating the workforce with knowledge and skills needed for an evolving industry. NACTEL is currently offering those who are interested in becoming an affiliate their first year free if they join by September 1, 2022. More information about joining NACTEL is available at nactel.org.

About NACTEL
The National Alliance for Communications, Technology, Education and Learning is a collaboration of industry employers and unions working with higher education to create and sponsor online education programs that meet the needs of current and future telecommunications professionals. Founded in 1999, NACTEL has been the premier source of online education to address critical employment needs in the evolving telecommunications industry. www.nactel.org.

About CAEL
Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL helps forge a clear, viable connection between education and career success, providing solutions that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. CAEL opens doors to opportunity in collaboration with workforce and economic developers; postsecondary educators; employers and industry groups; and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations. By engaging with these stakeholders, we foster a culture of innovative, lifelong learning that helps individuals and their communities thrive. A membership organization established in 1974, CAEL is a part of Strada Collaborative, a mission-driven nonprofit. Learn more at cael.org and stradacollaborative.org.

About Pace University
Pace University has been serving adult learners since 1906 and is a leader in online education and excels at serving adult learners. Pace University is a fully accredited private university located in New York State that offers a wide range of academic and professional programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The University is chartered by the Regents of the State of New York and is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Pace’s Lubin School of Business is dual-accredited in business and accounting from AACSB International, an elite distinction shared by fewer than 5% of institutions worldwide.