Community College Journal - December 2009/January 2010

The Key to Our
Economic Future

Community colleges are a critical partner in the public workforce system. Their unique blend of educa- tion and career training allows them to serve students eeking the skills needed to enter the job market for the first time, those who are retraining following a layoff, and, of course, those who plan to continue on to a four- year degree. It has long been known that the flexible schedules and career-focused curricula found at community and technical colleges allow these institutions to reach students who might not see higher education as a first option. Their strong ties to communities—inner-city and rural—that might otherwise be isolated from educational resources make community colleges key in a system that seeks to provide good education and good jobs for all Americans.

These colleges have been vital in establishing strong relationships with employers and creating curricula to meet the skill requirements of industry. During these challenging economic times, community and technical colleges have been responsive and flexible in offering programs that meet the needs of working adults through high-quality programs leading to industry-recognized credentials and degrees.

Through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, such as Trade Adjustment Assistance, thousands of workers facing layoffs have the opportunity to pursue retraining that leads to new careers. For many of these individuals, community colleges are the first choice when it comes to finding the education and training they need.

Nearly 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers nationwide refer clients to
community college programs as an extension of their regular business.

With so many community and technical colleges included on Workforce Investment Act approved training provider lists, it’s only natural that the centers turn to regional educators when they believe job seekers can benefit from industry-specific training.

Opportunities for the Labor Department to collaborate with these schools will increase as a result of several recent initiatives. During the coming weeks and months, the Department of Labor will announce $500 million in Green Jobs grants to prepare workers for careers in emerging sectors such as energy efficiency and renewable-energy production. Green Jobs offer U.S. workers the opportunity to enter fields that are poised to grow and that are not easily outsourced. Wind turbine technician, for instance, is an emerging occupation that requires the talents of highly skilled and educated American workers. This career and others like it offer the good pay and opportunities for advancement that our workers demand and deserve. We expect that through continued federal investment and collaboration, community colleges will continue to respond with cutting-edge educational solutions that ensure new opportunities are open to all workers.

President Obama’s proposed American Graduation Initiative (AGI) is another opportunity for community and technical colleges to expand upon their already vital role of preparing workers for careers in promising industries. This unprecedented investment in worker education will provide community colleges with the funding needed to upgrade facilities, expand course offerings, and strengthen connections to the business community.

Combined with President Obama’s
ongoing plans to reform the student
loan process, expand Pell grants and
college tax credits, and simplify student
aid, the AGI will open doors to high-
quality education and good jobs for even
more of America’s workers. Though
Congress is still considering legislation
to implement the initiative, we at the
Department of Labor are already looking
forward to working with community
and technical colleges and
with our sister agency, the
U.S. Department of Educa-
tion, to make the initiative a
success.

The Department of Labor looks forward to continuing the good work that we have already started through collaboration with community and technical colleges. We are also eager to expand and

strengthen our relationship with educators as an important part of our mission to prepare workers for good jobs that offer family-supporting wages, benefits, and security. Though the ongoing economic recovery will continue to send challenges our way, with these challenges comes a unique opportunity to transform the community and technical college system in a way that returns the United States to its leadership in higher education.