Dive Brief:
- The California Community Colleges Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation, and a Strong Economy has released a report with 25 recommendations meant to address a projected shortage of 1 million skilled workers in the state.
- The task force recommends that the community college system revise curriculum approval processes and develop a sustainable supplementary funding source so coursework and degree programs can keep pace with industry needs.
- It also recommends hiring more Career and Technical Education faculty, perhaps by changing minimum qualifications so industry professionals can take a place within instructional programs.
Dive Insight:
Career and Technical Education has been a hallmark of the community college system, preparing students for a local workforce waiting for their particular skillsets, often fostered in collaboration with corporate partners in the region. The California Community Colleges task force, with its recommendations, called for targeted support of such programs, acknowledging new programs often have high startup and operational costs. In Arizona, a handful of community colleges have lost all monetary support from the state amid drastic budget cuts that lead the nation in their severity.