Across the nation, community colleges are looking for ways to better connect with business and industry and improve student outcomes. Here are highlights from our recent work with colleges.
Integrating Community Colleges and Workforce Agencies
During the latter part of 2012, in partnership with the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Collaborative Economics, Inc., CSW convened a set of community colleges to focus on integration of community colleges and the workforce system to improve employment outcomes for students. In November, the group met in DC to dig into topics such as specific participant tracking strategies in use by community colleges and linkages to state administrative data, employer engagement in both curriculum design and tracking graduates, and examples of effective partnerships. There was also extensive discussion of internal structural changes that community colleges must undertake to ensure their systems more effectively support learners as well as improve employment outcomes for graduates. The group identified three areas of change required for this kind of success: institutional change, improved employer engagement in curriculum and job placement, and continued movement toward contextualized, cohort based learning for students. This workgroup’s activities are part of a broader technical assistance effort funded by the federal Department of Labor to provide technical assistance to American Reinvestment and Recovery Act grantees.
Expanding Business Engagement in Credentialing Processes
Supported by the Surdna Foundation, we have been exploring the intersection of competency-based credentialing efforts and industry sector partnerships. In the course of our research, we conducted literature reviews and personal interviews with leading experts in credential validation and convened a group of policy makers and practitioners to discuss and sharpen the resulting recommendations. CSW will soon publish a report that offers a roadmap that will guide educators, businesses, and workforce development professionals as they develop and implement credentialing systems in their regions. We plan to share our findings with a broad set of national stakeholders who are interested in this topic from both a policy and practice perspective.
Offering Workshops on Employer Engagement
In December, we worked with the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges to conduct a workshop on employer engagement, virtual engagement, and how to link with career centers. Dr. Keith W. Bird’s presentation covered driving forces for institutional and instructional transformation, disconnects between employers and educators, employers as strategic partners, employer engagement in curriculum restructuring and instructional delivery transformation.
Redesigning Workforce Development Services
CSW has advised several community college systems and individual colleges about employer engagement and redesigning college workforce development structures and services. As an example of that work, CSW worked with the West Virginia Community and Technical College System to create a model for sector partnerships in their state and to begin implementing it through a statewide Sector Strategy Institute.
Offering TAACCT Grant Technical Assistance and Evaluation Support
CSW also has assisted several colleges and consortia in developing proposals to the U.S. Department of Labor for Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training (TAACCCT) grants. Those multi-year grants are supporting evidence-based, systemic changes in college policy and practice. CSW is now serving as an evaluator for some grantees and offering strategic advising to some others.
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