Non-credit training and programs are in higher demand than ever before. Community colleges need to find ways in which they too can get onboard with non-credit education to retain students…
Community College
Beyond the Rankings: Regional Colleges’ Impact on Their Communities
Alicia B. Harvey-Smith | President and CEO, Pittsburgh Technical CollegeRegional colleges tend to be more heavily involved within their local communities—and though it’s not their reason for doing so—academic rankings, which traditionally focus on more prestigious four-year institutions, can…
With a tremendous experience collaborating with the workforce in developing the right programs, community colleges have a great opportunity to position themselves more prominently in the higher ed space. Community…
Conscious Development of Continuing Ed in Community Colleges
Frank Nunez | District Director of Trade and Training, State Center Community College DistrictIn creating non-credit offerings, having an organization that can facilitate discussions and support from other regional leaders is important to developing the best learner experience. Non-credit programming is becoming an…
No matter what education path someone takes, work-based and experiential learning will always hold high value—something that community colleges need to incorporate into their program models. Community colleges are there…
Continuing Ed as the Strategic Imperative for Community Colleges
Carlos Cortez | President of San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE), San Diego Community College DistrictCommunity colleges aren’t used to distance education, and the pandemic has forced them to rethink their infrastructure around it. It isn’t an easy step to take, but once you begin…
To increase the number of adults with education beyond high school, colleges will need to see credit and non-credit education as equals and quickly deliver the skills employers need right…
Taking a Regional Approach to Collaboration in Non-Traditional Programming
Monica Johnston | Director of Workforce Development, Metropolitan Community CollegeTo give students the best learning experience they can have, higher ed leaders need to keep relationships strong and doors open when it comes to innovative ideas, so everyone can…
Community colleges can develop high-quality non-credit programming but what’s most important is that they illustrate the value of this pathway to their students and faculty. Community colleges have an opportunity…
Finding Financial Support for Non-credit Programming in Community Colleges
Albert Lewis | Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development, Bellevue CollegeWith non-credit programming typically offered in continuing education units, it’s time for institutions to rethink its value and who should be able to offer it. Non-credit offerings in the community…
With a decreasing population of traditional-aged students, institutions must make the pivotal shift to creating programming catered to working adult learners. Institutions have taken a hard financial hit due to…
Providing Adults Free Courses Online: It Can Be Done (Part 1)
Carlos Cortez | President of San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE), San Diego Community College DistrictOffering distance or online education is one thing, but part of designing the educational experience for the client/student means meeting their financial, social and cultural needs. Students need to be…
We’ve come to accept that the online environment will only become more important after the pandemic, and institutions need to be well equipped to serve high-quality programming and services in…
Redesigning Workforce Programming Online
Carlos Cortez | President of San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE), San Diego Community College DistrictFor San Diego Continuing Education, the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t just prompt them to launch online instruction but a whole online learning platform: ICOM Academy. This new initiative serves to deliver…
In wake of the pandemic, higher education has come to understand the value of online education, but there’s more work to be done for online education to reach its full…
Guided Pathways: Are Colleges ‘Student-Ready’?
Ann Buchele | Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Education, Linn-Benton Community CollegeWhen selecting courses, it’s easy for students to get lost in the never-ending list of options, which usually ends in frustration with a bad experience. Guided pathways are a way…
More often than not, adult students need to drop out of school due to family or financial issues. This trend is common to both universities and community colleges, and students…
Community Colleges Leading the Way for Displaced Workers
Vic Adams | President and CEO, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeCareer and technical education are critical to filling the skills gap in the community, and community colleges are the key drivers to providing the right opportunities to fill these gaps.…
With millions of displaced workers in the United States, the only fast and efficient way to get them back into the workforce is through short-term courses designed to support upskilling…
Get Ahead of the Curve: Preparations for a Successful Fall Semester Must Start Now
Mick Starcevich | Former President, Kirkwood Community CollegeAs the COVID-19 pandemic evolves from an urgent public health crisis to an economic catastrophe, higher education institutions are bracing for long-term impact while working around the clock to continue…
The key constituencies or stakeholders for the workforce development practitioner are employer organizations. The practitioners have been somewhat successful in creating and delivering training services with mixed results. I can…
The New Big Player: Workforce Education Heading Into Recession
Anton Reece | President, West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeWith adult learners looking to upskill and reskill, workforce education will become critical in serving these learners as we head into a new normal. Learner demographics—and whole institutions—will be looking…
Remote working and learning eliminate face-to-face interactions, which is a critical component in the community college world. As a result, students and even staff are beginning to look elsewhere for…
How a Transfer Agreement is Bridging the Skills Gap for 14 Colleges
Elizabeth Bolden | President and CEO, Pennsylvania Commission for Community CollegesEarlier this year, Pennsylvania’s community colleges finalized a statewide articulation agreement with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The historic agreement provides current and future Pennsylvania community college graduates the opportunity…
Community and technical colleges serve essential missions. They create pathways to sustainable work for underserved audiences, respond to and fill emerging labor market gaps, and they do this work while…
Building a Workforce Community After Crisis
Ian Roark | Vice President of Workforce Development and Strategic Partnerships, Pima Community CollegeSo far, we’ve seen the COVID-19 crisis push institutions beyond their comfort zones. Many are aware of the anxieties of rapidly changing course, but the pandemic has brought on a…
One of the toughest challenges of remote learning is ensuring everyone has the same access to digital resources. To do this, tools and processes need to be established. The benefit…
Shared Responsibilities: What It Will Take to Deliver a True National Lifelong Learning Ecosystem
Denise Amyot | President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes CanadaLifelong learning is becoming a reality for every adult, regardless of industry. Automation and technology evolution mean work expectations and standards change rapidly, as do the industries themselves. In this…
There are too many jobs and not enough workers, so how do we close the gap? There’s a general perception of apprenticeships as being a lengthy and unrewarding processes, especially…
Form Follows Function: Monroe Community College’s Modular Career Pathways
Christine Carpenter | Vice President of Engagement, CAELMost faculty and staff I know view education as a two-way street. After all, there’s a lot you can learn from students even as they are learning from you. Todd…