Members

Lakeshore Technical College - WI (PGF)

Hiring, Onboarding Investments are Critical to Success (PGF Bellwether Award Winner)

Recognizing the importance of the college investment to acquire new talent and the significant investment of the applicants in seeking new employment, Lakeshore initiated in 2020 a review of the employee hiring and onboarding process with the objective to create a positive and enduring impact.

 

St. Louis Community College - MO (WD)

Show-Me Synergy: Growing the Healthcare Workforce in St. Louis (WD Bellwether Award Winner)

St. Louis Community College implemented a multi-year strategic plan to assist in meeting the ongoing healthcare workforce needs in our region. The success of this program has led to increases in student enrollments, additional resources for the College, and has strengthened our relationship with our clinical partners.

 

Reading Area Community College (RACC) - PA (IPS)

Nurturing Growth in the Teacher Pipeline: A Transformative Success Pathway (IPS Bellwether Award Winner)

"Nurturing Growth in the Teacher Pipeline" presents a replicable, equitable solution to the critical shortage of early educators. By utilizing Universal Design for Learning and restructuring the pathway into stackable credentials, with acceleration options and strong student supports, Reading Area Community College's innovative ECE/Teacher Education Pathway increases enrollment and completion.

 

Gaston College - NC (WD)

Gaston College and CaroMont Health Partnership: Meeting Critical Healthcare Needs (WD Best in Showcase Winner)

Gaston College partnered with CaroMont Health to address healthcare staffing shortages through apprenticeship, new programs, dual-enrollment opportunities, scholarships, and expansion of simulation. To date, over 600 diverse students have been enrolled and well-supported in Gaston College programs resulting from the partnership with CaroMont, leading to student retention and completion gains.

Northeast Texas Community College - TX (PGF)

Work4College Program at NTCC - Work. Serve. Learn. Earn. (PGF Best in Showcase Winner)

The Work4College Program at Northeast Texas Community College empowers students to earn while they learn, bridging the gap between education and real-world experience. It provides access to both on campus and off campus job opportunities, allowing students to not only fund their college education, but also cultivate essential career skills.

Leeward Community College - HI (IPS)

Kawaimanomano - “The Many Waters” (IPS Best in Showcase Winner)

Kawaimanomano is the college’s first Native Hawaiian professional development program. This semester-long opportunity supports employees in the indigenization of the college as they integrate Native Hawaiian culture, values, history, and language into their work. This knowledge creates a purposeful sense of pride and belonging in our employees and students.

 

 

Allan Hancock College - CA (IPS)

Changing the Odds - Culturally Responsive Curriculum

Historically, college curriculum has been largely Eurocentric. Allan Hancock College serves a majority Hispanic (67%) student population, and its faculty aimed to address this disparity for traditionally underserved populations. A curriculum assessment tool and professional development series was developed to assist faculty in transforming curriculum to become more culturally responsive.

 

Bellingham Technical College - WA (PGF)

Feeding Knowledge, the Economy, and the Planet

Since 2018, Bellingham Technical College has worked with tribal and state partners to expand its salmon hatchery production to meet demand for skilled fisheries and aquaculture workers. With updated curriculum and partnerships, the new college program releases 500,000 Chinook salmon annually, supporting tribal, recreational, and commercial fisheries, and endangered orcas.

 

Central Community College - NE (WD)

Hands-on Independent Mechatronics Education Curriculum

The goal of the program is to increase the number of Mechatronics and Instrumentation control technicians and engineers to meet workforce demands by enhancing and expanding a high-quality, low-cost distance education model to create a new pathway to Mechatronics programs in partnership with dedicated rural high schools and industry partners.

 

Cerritos College - CA (IPS)

It Takes a Village: Supporting Student Housing and Basic Needs

The Falcon’s Nest serves its mission to provide centralized support services for students facing basic need insecurities through on- and off-campus resources, community collaboration, and advocacy that ensures educational success. The primary goal of the Falcon's Nest housing programs are to ensure unhoused students are linked to stable housing and housing insecure students are provided stability to prevent them from losing their housing.

 

Cleveland Community College - NC (WD)

Electrical Lineworker Academy Shines Light on Promising Career

CCC’s Electrical Lineworker Academy equips graduates to maintain a reliable power grid, ensuring uninterrupted essential services to the economy. Established in 2017, the program provides a short-term (10-week) training academy and has nearly a 100% placement rate, resulting in 426 students receiving employment offers, often before they complete the program.

 

Columbia Basin College - WA (IPS)

Transforming Math Education for Equitable Student Success

Columbia Basin College successfully revamped the developmental math sequence, placement procedures, and introduced intrusive advising, leading to substantial improvements in students successfully completing college level math. This proposal outlines the key components of the program, its implementation process, performance indicators, and lessons learned, with a focus on scalability and equity.

 

Del Mar College - TX (WD)

Building Our Nation's Workforce One Stackable Credential at a Time

Del Mar College developed a Continuing Education (CE) to Credit stackable process that provides all students, regardless of educational level, a postsecondary education and workforce credentials to become work ready. Students earn a CE Workforce Skills Award that can be matriculated into an aligned credit program of study.

 

Fletcher Technical Community College - LA (PGF)

8 is All it Takes: Rethinking the Traditional Semester

In Fall 2022, Fletcher Technical Community College shifted course offerings to an eight-week model, allowing students the opportunity to complete a class in less time, focus on less material at a time, and improve momentum and completion. The college has seen proven success rates with this model.

 

Hudson County Community College - NJ (PGF)

A Framework for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scalable Best Practices

Guided by its two overarching principles of Student Success and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), HCCC is nationally recognized for DEI best practices. With Board, executive, and college-wide support, HCCC transformed its institutional framework, programs, and services by galvanizing community engagement through transparency, community partnerships, and strategic professional development.

 

Hudson County Community College - NJ (IPS)

A Transformational Learning Pathway Model for Justice-Involved Students

Creating pathways for incarcerated, reentry, and court-involved citizens to obtain a degree or industry-recognized credential is essential to the equity work of a community college and the welfare of our community and nation. Hudson County Community College created a transformational and scalable program for currently and previously incarcerated citizens.

 

Grand Rapids Community College - MI (WD)

Medical Apprenticeships - Learning While Earning in Healthcare

Grand Rapids Community College, with our employer partners, has created four healthcare apprenticeship programs to meet employer needs. These apprenticeships have moved individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and underrepresented communities into careers in healthcare. Two of the four programs were the first healthcare apprenticeships registered by USDOL in the U.S.

 

Lone Star College - TX (PGF)

Reimagining Online Student Success Through LSC-Online

LSC-Online launched in Fall 2022, combining the divisions of instructional technology and online student services with forty selected faculty. With the common goal to increase student access, success, and completion, LSC-Online sought to re-imagine what online teaching and learning could look like if we were proactive and interconnected.

 

Nashua Community College - NH (WD)

Microelectronics Boot Camp Investing in a Brighter Future

Since its inception in 2016, our Microelectronics Boot Camp has proudly served 314 graduates, with the majority of them hailing from an underserved population, including 75 individuals who were homeless. We firmly believe that our Microelectronics Boot Camp exemplifies the essence of our workforce development. The boot camp is a 10-week comprehensive non-credit program that not only equips individuals with the essential skills for a burgeoning industry but also addresses critical societal challenges by serving those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This program boasts an impressive 95% employment rate for its graduates, underlining its remarkable success in facilitating social mobility and economic opportunity.

 

Norco College - CA (PGF)

Holistic Student Supports - A Foundation for Equity in Guided Pathways

Norco College implemented a holistic student support process based on Achieving the Dream’s Holistic Student Supports Redesign toolkit. Utilizing existing technology and personnel, a successful program was launched at scale for all incoming students, leading to customized support plans for each student and improved student services throughout the campus.

 

North Florida College - FL (IPS)

Mentoring: Low-Cost Initiative with Immediate Results

North Florida College (NFC) recognized a need to support underperforming subgroups within its student body to achieve equitable outcomes. College leadership formed the iCARE Mentoring Program and gained remarkable improvements in at-risk subgroups without placing limitations on participation and simultaneously engaging over 30% of faculty and staff.

 

Northwest Mississippi Community College - MS (IPS)

Non-Profit and Community College Partnership in Rural Technology Education

Basecamp Coding Academy is a partnership between a non-profit organization, Basecamp, located in the small town of Water Valley, MS, and Northwest Mississippi Community College. The purpose of the partnership is to provide credit coding instruction to students in a rural community who may not otherwise attend college.

 

Pima Community College - AZ (IPS)

Advancing Apprenticeship: Pima Community College’s Innovative Approach to Academic Expansion

In conjunction with ​certificates and degrees, apprenticeships are a critical component of Pima Community College programs. These opportunities can help bridge the gap between 21st-Century ​skills and middle- and high-skill jobs and serve varied populations. Earn-and-learn models allow participants to gain viable skills while earning income and reducing debt.

 

Southside Virginia Community College - VA (WD)

Industry Collaboration for Workforce Development: SVCC's Power Line Worker Program

In response to workforce needs, Southside Virginia Community College created the first Power Line Worker program in the Commonwealth. Since its inception, the program has produced 524 graduates, serving as an example of how collaboration between a community college, state agencies, and employers can positively impact the workforce.

 

Stanly Community College - NC (PGF)

Unlocking Potential through Professional Advising and Instructional Innovation

For decades, Stanly Community College (SCC) relied on a faculty-driven advising model. Changing student needs coupled with growing demands on faculty revealed the advising model needed to change. SCC made a holistic shift from faculty-driven advising to a professional advising model, resulting in dramatic increases in student success metrics.

 

San Antonio College - TX (WD)

The San Antonio College Architecture/Engineering Job Shadow Day

Since 2014, 600+ architecture and engineering students have enjoyed the San Antonio College Architecture/Engineering Job Shadow Day. Students learn about projects, discuss career aspirations, and tour one of the firm’s construction job sites. At a luncheon, students reflect on their experience and share their insights with 100+ luncheon attendees.

 

Southwest Tennessee Community College - TN (PGF)

Seamless Pathways: Reimagining Workforce Entry

Southwest Tennessee Community College recently received a Reimagining Community College Experience grant to improve student success through increased career exploration, career advising, and workforce certification during the first year. The College’s Southwest Workforce Solutions Center creates seamless pathways between credit and noncredit, better equipping students for workforce entry.

 

Ventura College - CA (IPS)

The Ventura College Basic Needs Center Fosters Increased Student Success

Ventura College provided more than 29,500 basic needs service contacts in 2022-2023 to support underrepresented students’ academic persistence/success (e.g., increased units taken). Basic Needs Center services include food pantry/basic essentials, food benefits/housing assistance, social services, mental health referrals, shower services, transportation assistance, emergency grants, and a second Basic Needs Center.

 

Western Dakota Technical College - SD (PGF)

Meeting the Need – Centralizing Coordination of Scholarship Program

The Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) Scholarships Office is the coordination center for scholarship development, application, and awarding. Working with donors to streamline all WDTC Foundation scholarships into a universal application has led to increased scholarship applications and additional scholarship opportunities for students.

 

Yavapai College - AZ (WD)

Redefining Resilience: A Pathway To Economic Empowerment

As economic and workforce development remains a top priority for community colleges, Yavapai College developed a scalable, innovative service model which identifies prospective entrepreneurs, helps new businesses start, and supports existing small businesses with a goal of upskilling workforce, retaining and creating jobs, and increasing business investment.

Atlanta Technical College - GA (WD)

Bellwether Award and Best in Showcase Recipient

The Atlanta Technical College Center for Workforce Innovation

The Atlanta Technical College Center for Workforce Innovation (CWI) was born out of a need to address concerns related to disparities in sustainable career and economic mobility opportunities for Atlanta’s most overlooked communities. Data from a regional study in 2018 reveal that individuals born into poverty in certain Atlanta zip codes have only a 4 percent chance of elevating their economic position throughout their entire lifetime. The Mayor and the CEOs of the city’s leading corporations realized that the city and the region cannot thrive while a significant portion of the population struggles.

 

Hudson County Community College - NJ (IPS)

Bellwether Award Recipient

Hudson Scholars

Hudson Scholars, an innovative student support model, focuses on retention and improving student outcomes by scaling successful elements of acclaimed national best-practice models, providing proactive, high-touch advisement, financial support, and early academic intervention. Increased revenue from improved retention has more than covered the program's current operating costs and is likely to result in long-term sustainability and scaling to all students.

 

Alamo Colleges District - TX (PGF) 

Bellwether Award Recipient

Fulfilling the Higher Education Promise through Off-Campus Work-Study Employment

Alamo Colleges, appreciating the implied promise of higher education, to provide a stable and rewarding career, prepares first-generation students for post-graduation job market success. Alamo offers work-study eligible students off-campus career-relevant employment through federal financial aid funding. Students are employed by non-profit organizations, governmental agencies or private-sector employers. Wages are paid by federal work-study funds, or if a student is employed by a private business, the employer pays a portion of the wages. Students receive assistance in job selection, resume and cover letter writing, and navigating the human resources process as well as attending professional development sessions through the Office of Workplace Learning.

 

Sinclair Community College - OH (PGF)

Best in Showcase Recipient

Equity and Inclusion for All Across the Classroom, Campus, and Community

Sinclair Community College’s focused Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy towards building a more equitable campus through an Emphasis on Equity and Inclusion, the Curb-Cut Effect, and Success Benchmarking in the Classroom resulted in significant gains made for all learners from classroom to community through innovative programs, intentional services, and inspiring leadership.

South Piedmont Community College - NC (IPS) 

Best in Showcase Recipient

South Piedmont’s Learning Reimagined: Increasing access, removing barriers, and providing flexibility to meet diverse needs of community college students

Community College students face barriers related to work, finances, friends/family, and online classes. South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) addressed the top four barriers facing students through Learning Reimagined, a comprehensive curriculum redevelopment that included migration to a new learning management system, adoption of digital resources and curation of significant open educational resources (OER), and introduction/scale-up of hybridflexible (Hyflex) instruction. Through Learning Reimagined, SPCC both increases access/removes barriers for students and provides learners with customizable, flexible learning designed to meet the needs of diverse community college populations.

 

Arizona Western College - AZ (WD)

Advanced Manufacturing Program gets boost from Berlin

Arizona Western College was the first college in the country to complete the TBIC College Certification program. Community colleges play an important role in regional workforce development efforts by providing affordable and accessible technical education and training, which can help close the skills gap and provide a pipeline of talent for both existing and prospective employers. The TBIC College Certification program is designed to assess and certify community colleges in their ability to provide top-quality technical training that meets the needs of today's economy. To date, Arizona Western College is the only community college in the United States to have completed the TBIC College Certification program. The program includes an assessment of several relevant parameters, such as the level of cooperation between the college and local industry representatives as well as the technical education and practical training offered to students.

 

Chattanooga State Community College - TN (IPS)

High School Highway to Advanced Manufacturing: Exit 1-AAS degree; Exit 2 – Career

Facing thousands of unfilled manufacturing jobs, Southeast Tennessee had the profound challenge of recruiting, training, and sustaining a skilled workforce. Chattanooga State CC and Hamilton County Schools developed two successful high school programs focusing on in-demand careers. The programs provide college & career pathways via career tech education dual enrollment for students who are underperforming in high school and less likely to attend college.

 

Blinn College District - TX (PGF)

Beyond the Suggestion Box

Transforming frontline employee knowledge into effective, sustainable innovations is an ongoing challenge for organizations. The FutureWorks Academy brings together faculty and staff from across campuses to identify critical College issues and propose solutions. After a year of collective work, participants make a formal presentation to and seek approval from the College’s executive leadership to develop and diffuse approved projects throughout the College.

 

South Piedmont Community College - NC (WD)

Filling the pipeline

South Piedmont Community College’s ApprenticeshipIMPACT incentivizes college, community, and employer partnerships to provide classroom and on-the-job training and education to meet industry needs. In partnership with Columbus-McKinnon, one of the area’s employers, South Piedmont (SPCC) developed a flexible, innovative curriculum that allows students to learn and earn, access higher wages, and advance as they learn. Data indicate success for learners and for the talent pipeline at Columbus-McKinnon.

 

El Paso Community College - TX (IPS)

EPCC’s FYE Program: Supporting Students, Transforming Lives

The First-Year Experience (FYE) Program at El Paso Community College (EPCC) provides transformative holistic advising and wraparound services for first-year students. The program integrates cohort models, peer academic and faculty coaching, ongoing workshops, case management advising, and individualized educational plans. The FYE Program has reformed EPCC’s advising model from a one-size fits all approach to proactive case management.

 

North Central Texas College - TX (IPS)

Aspire To Be Hired- Employability Skills for Student Success

North Central Texas College’s (NCTC) Aspire to be Hired program focuses on students’ employability and professional skills through embedded instruction in students’ courses and co-curricular activities. Aspire to be Hired addresses skills gaps in awareness and articulation of employability skills and the practical experience of skill application to remove barriers and reduce the skills gap, thus improving students’ long-term employability.

 

Clark State College - OH (PGF)

Fresh Abilities – A Fresh Take on Food and Service

Clark State College recently partnered with Fresh Abilities, a food service training program of The Abilities Connection (TAC), a nonprofit organization that serves people with disabilities and offers safe, inclusive workplaces to thrive. Through this innovative partnership, Clark State was able to bring a food service provider to campus that fit its needs, and the Fresh Abilities program was able to expand and enhance its training offerings.

 

Blinn College District - TX (WD)

Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program: "Give Kids A Smile"©

Community collaboration is integral to workforce students’ success as they transition to their profession. Passion for community service can be fostered in our programs and provide invaluable experience for our graduates while developing strong relationships in their community. Blinn College Dental Hygiene has demonstrated success through collaboration and service with Give Kids A Smile©.

 

Gaston College - NC (WD) 

Partnership at It’s Best: Gaston College Partnership with CaroMont to Meet Healthcare Needs

Many issues contribute to the staffing crisis in healthcare, as such Gaston College partnered with CaroMont Health to implement apprenticeships, new programs, dual-enrollment opportunities, scholarships, and expansion of pathways. The partnership also boasts state-of-the-art simulation facilities, new programming for dual-enrollment and adult learners, funding for faculty and equipment, and a sustainable, scalable model for meeting workforce needs.

 

Hudson County Community College - NJ (PGF)

Building an Inclusive and Engaged Workforce

Employees matter. Engaged employees with diverse perspectives and an inclusive environment are essential to student
success. Hudson County Community College (HCCC) focused recruitment and retention initiatives to underscore diversity,
inclusion, and belonging. The multifaceted program is aligned with HCCC’s culture of care and expands upon programs
enhancing professional development, appreciation, and recognition, and keeping the community connected.

 

Pima Community College - AZ (PGF)

Addition by Subtraction, Investing in Student Success by Removing Financial Barriers

Pima Community College invested in a leading indicator of persistence and retention, a mandatory student success course. An important enrollment management strategy is to ensure first semester students keep coming back. By mandating a one credit student success course, and eliminating the costs associated with the course (tuition and textbook), the college expected to increase student completions.

 

Hudson County Community College - NJ (WD)

Gateway to Innovation

HCCC Gateway to Innovation (GTI) program addresses unprecedented, COVID-related systemic challenges in the workforce ecosystem with the goal of achieving lasting improvement. GTI works to: STABILIZE students’ basic supports, enhance financial health; ENGAGE alumni; RECOVER by expanding access to short-term healthcare credentials, attachment to recession resistant work; PROSPER by creating projects aligned with recession resistant industries.

 

Lakeshore Technical College - WI (PGF)

Grant Strategy Saves Time & Gains Money

With declining revenue and enrollments, Lakeshore looked to grants to generate new revenue. Unfortunately, the existing structure for identifying and pursuing grants at Lakeshore was broken – resulting in limited award success. A new leadership team chose to examine the process closely, finding it to be inefficient and ineffective, much like it is at other community colleges. Lakeshore viewed this problem as an opportunity with the right solution, could improve efficiency and effectiveness. The creation and empowerment of a Grants Council has accomplished both goals.

 

Lamar State College Port Arthur - TX (PGF)

Gathering partners to impact State & National problems

In 2018, Industry demand for commercial drivers significantly increased the number of CDL applicants in Texas and lengthened the “time to success” for students. LSCPA became a 3rd party provider under DPS to bypass this backlog. “Time to success” dropped significantly for students of the college causing a concomitant rise in students’ success.

 

Pima Community College - AZ (WD)

Answering the Call: Responding to the Teacher Shortage

There is an unprecedented and increasing K12 teacher shortage in Arizona and nationwide. Reports from schools and districts around the country indicate “gaps that stretch from the hundreds to the thousands.” The Post-Degree Teacher Certification program at Pima Community College innovatively addresses this need and is making a difference in Arizona and could address this need elsewhere.

 

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College - NC (IPS)

LPN to ADN Completion Option and the Academic-Clinical Partnership

The ongoing nursing shortage has increased the need for academic and clinical partners to collaborate on strategies that will increase the number of students admitted and graduated from schools of nursing. Relationships between academic and clinical partners have always existed, however, a firmer understanding of how each stakeholder can work to achieve the preferred outcomes.

 

Pima Community College - AZ (IPS)

Enter PimaFastTrack

Like other colleges, Pima Community College (PCC) has been facing steady enrollment declines, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. To increase offering relevancy, PCC launched micro-pathway programs to re-engage learners who exited without earning an award, and reach learners who have not considered attending college due to the structural barriers of the traditional model of higher education.

 

Polk State College - FL (PGF) 

Creating a Culture of Quality and Innovation for Online Learning

Polk State College seized an opportunity provided by CARES funding to create a baseline of quality for online course design; a task the College had not yet provisioned. Building an institutional rubric aligned to Florida’s “Quality” designation process, the Quality Matters essential standards, and existing evaluations, the rubric provided the opportunity to create the Quality Online Course Design Seminar.

 

South Mountain Community College - AZ (IPS) 

Ultimate Technology Summer Camp

The South Mountain Community College (SMCC) Ultimate Technology Summer Camp was created to expose underrepresented minority and female students to educational opportunities and careers in science, math, engineering and technology (STEM) - with an emphasis on technology. The goal of the program is to stimulate interest in STEM and increase the number of underrepresented minority and female students enrolling in STEM related courses – in both high school and college.

 

Reading Area Community College - PA (WD)

Pro-active Community Partnership in Workforce Training

Reading Area Community College’s (RACC) customized training initiative responsively addressed a need by a global agricultural equipment manufacturer for a rapid turn-around training program for newly hired Computer Numerical Control or CNC operators. As a proactive partner, RACC was able to provide training of CNC Machine operators (NIMS Certified), while maintaining integrity, in half the usual time period.

 

St. Louis Community College - MO (WD)

1,000 Job Placements and Growing! 

Boeing and St. Louis Community College’s Boeing Pre-Employment Training Program. A collaborative design and development of a highly needed advanced manufacturing program established to meet area workforce needs. In 2022, Boeing St. Louis and St. Louis Community College celebrated the 1,000th job placement of the Boeing Pre- Employment Training Program. Utilizing State, local, college, company resources, Boeing and STLCC established a program that continues to produce a high number of graduates for St. Louis's Defense and Commercial lines

 

Walters State Community College - TN (IPS) 

Recruiting Hispanics to Achieve

Housed in Academic Affairs, RHiTA systematically and aggressively addressed recruitment, academic support, and campus climate for our growing Hispanic population. 5-year results show that Hispanic student enrollment and success have consistently increased; persistence continues to be one of the two highest in the state of Tennessee and completion gaps have narrowed from 4.7% to 1.5% in the last three cohorts. The program has scaled regionally and demographically.

 

Tallahassee Community College - FL (WD)

Workforce Connections: Creating Talent at the Speed of Business

First the pandemic and now a worker shortage, but they’re no match for Workforce Connections! Workforce Connections is part of an employer engagement model that reimagines the community college system’s approach to delivering innovative workforce training at the speed of business. It’s the perfect solution for sparking the excitement in your campus community, growing your enrollment among special populations and creating lasting partnerships with industry.

 

Western Dakota Technical College - SD (PGF)

Moving the Needle: Implementing an Action-Based Strategic Enrollment Management Plan

Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) will share a behind the scenes look into Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) planning. Learn how the evolution of static planning has become evolving campus wide as departments are collaborating. Meaningful work towards overall Strategic Planning provides results to SEM, without duplicating efforts. WDTC results speak for themselves with increased performance indicators and outcomes.