A new micro-credentialing initiative at Rockland Community College (RCC) will help students distinguish themselves in a competitive marketplace. Micro-credentials can allow students to upskill and gain specific knowledge in emerging fields. They also promote professional growth for students in a new distance economy. RCC currently offers credit-bearing micro-credentials in several programs: hospitality and culinary arts, […]
Skills Gap Articles
Mentor-Connect continues to tap new faculty teams
Mentor-Connect welcomed 25 teams led by two-year college faculty as its 10th cohort of mentee colleges during a virtual meeting this month. Twenty states are represented in the 2022 cohort, including South Dakota. It is the first time a South Dakota college has been involved in Mentor-Connect. Broadening the geographic diversity of mentee colleges is […]
Student story: A new lease on life
Andy Johnson owned a small video production company when the pandemic forced him to close his business and “find a way to reinvent myself.” Enrolling in Polk State College’s Metallica Scholars Program provided him with the opportunity to receive valuable computer numeric control machining training for free in just eight weeks, putting him on a […]
Mobilizing for rapid CNA training
Staff shortages at long-term care facilities and healthcare centers in Minnesota have prompted Gov. Tim Walz to activate the Minnesota National Guard to form skilled-nursing response teams. Sixteen colleges in the state have responded quickly to get more than 400 soldiers trained as certified nursing assistants (CNAs). “Our long-term care facilities are facing an all-hands-on-deck […]
A spotlight on apprenticeships
This week, we celebrate the 7th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). During NAW, industry, labor, equity, workforce, education, and government leaders showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship. Last week, the White House issued a Proclamation on National Apprenticeship Week, stating support for Registered Apprenticeships. “As we build our economy back better and continue […]
International education for workforce development and a civil society
International education at community colleges is increasingly recognized as essential for building a more inclusive civil society and ensuring a strong U.S. economy. It teaches tolerance, respect and fosters curiosity about other customs and cultures. As the 2021 updates to the AACC International Education Toolkit (IET) highlight, international education at community colleges is powerful tool […]
Leveling the playing field
“Having an internship gives students a risk-free chance to try out new opportunities,” said Julie Pierce Onos, Middlesex Community College’s (MCC’s) director of the Northeast Regional Internship Program (NRIP). NRIP strives to provide students at the Massachusetts college with access to meaningful internships to help them gain relevant skills and better understand what they want […]
Stepping into the breach on teacher ed training
The demand for teachers in the United States exceeded the supply by more than 100,000 in 2019 for the first time ever, according to the Washington-based Learning Policy Institute, and that was before the challenges of teaching during a pandemic and resulting burnout. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated in 2016 that 270,000 primary […]
Raising the curtain on a new program
The field of technical theater has historically lacked people of color in its ranks. Seattle Central College (SCC) and Intiman Theatre are committed to creating an equitable and accessible pathway to paid jobs for these students. SCC and Intiman Theatre and have formed a partnership that will offer a new associate degree program emphasis in […]
Program growth to meet industry growth
In New Mexico, the Cannabis Regulation Act took effect in late June. The act makes recreational marijuana legal in the state. That means big growth is coming to that industry – and potentially big labor shortages. CNM Ingenuity, the enterprise arm of Central New Mexico Community College, is launching a new online program specifically designed […]