Collaborations Between Community Colleges and the Workforce System

Workforce boards and community colleges have a long history of partnering for the delivery of workforce training services. What have we learned about these partnerships and how to maximize their impact on local economies and successful careers of residents? What role do and can the colleges and boards play collectively to build and sustain a continuum of labor market analysis and forecasting, service delivery, continuous improvement, and business engagement?

Teamed with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, EERC is examining what is working and what is not, as well as the issues of scale and sustainability. Lessons and models from the American Association of Community Colleges' Job Ready Willing, and Able (funded by Walmart Foundation) and Back to Work 50+ (funded by AARP Foundation) initiatives, as well as early evaluation results from the TAACCCT grants form the base of discussion. This effort delves into the research and best practice, and identifies critical factors for intentional strategic partnerships of workforce systems and community colleges.

Pre-conference session at NAWB, March 2016.