December Digest: Workforce education & training data pilot, CCW grants, and more
December Updates from Our Centers
Allied Health
Dan Ferguson, Director of the Allied Health Center of Excellence, presented at the Chair Leadership Academy, November 19, 2021, in Scottsdale, AZ. The presentation was presented in collaboration with Rita Karam, Ph.D., Senior Researcher with the RAND Corporation. The title of the presentation was "Building Strong Partnerships -Connecting Community Colleges and Employers". Information and strategies for developing and sustaining meaningful collaborative relationships with industry was shared with attendees. Discussions included a focus on aligning DEI initiatives and philosophy as well as assuring an organizational culture that is capable sustaining industry guided institutional innovation. The research, including the recommendations, is part of a multi-state study, includes Washington, will be published in the very near future.
Careers in Education
In partnership with the Marine COE and other project leadership, we made significant progress on the statewide Skill Standards for Prof/Tech Faculty update project. This included identifying and securing lead facilitators, convening weekly meetings with various stakeholders, Steering Committee members, and project consultants, and running a successful statewide campaign for faculty focus group members. We were pleased to receive nearly 60 applications for participation representing 83% of our system colleges. Focus group members have been selected and facilitations will begin late January.
Information and Computing Technology
In 2021, 10 information technology faculty members from 9 colleges were awarded professional development funds by the IT Center of Excellence to advance their technical skills, attend conferences, purchase materials, and bring new technologies into the classroom. Congratulations to these outstanding educators!
Marine Manufacturing & Technology
Chmura Data Pilot The Workforce Data Pilot will identify, format, and deliver workforce demand data, using the Chmura JobsEQ RTI platform. This project will demonstrate the use and effectiveness of occupational, and industry data to the workforce education and training system. Ten Centers of Excellence are participating in the pilot and will fully engage in the development of the project rubric, collection of data, and the report of findings and recommendations at the end of the pilot.
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Clean Energy
Several energizing projects occurred this year: We published Clean Energy in the Bonneville Power Administration Area that showcases the industry’s current state and future direction (June, 2021); hired a new director, Monica Brummer, and created the first year’s strategic plan; and re-launched the Energy Educators’ Association – it’s free and will include virtual meetings to share news, trends and best practices for energy educators and deans in the CTC system. For more information, please email monica.brummer@centralia.edu.
Agriculture & Natural Resource
Seventh Round of CCW Intermediary Grantees Selected: Career Connect Washington Intermediary: Expanding Equitable Green Opportunities for Youth in Forestry- Pacific Education Institute is partnering with the Agriculture & Natural Resource Center of Excellence on this project. The proposal focuses on career exploration and preparation in partnership with school districts and forest land managers and employers. We proposed to implement our forest management course during the summer of 2022 in three regions/school districts in partnership with our forest land owners and employers and we will be working closely with Grays Harbor and Green River Colleges to provide dual credit articulation for the course. We intend to build a “document of competency” based on skills identified by employers as in demand.
Construction
In partnership with the Washington Building Trades, Labor & Industries, AGC Education Foundation, Highline School District and the Seattle/King County WDC, we hosted a virtual Apprenticeship Preparation Summit and launched an apprenticeship toolkit just in time for National Apprenticeship Week: https://apprenticeshipsrock.com/
Homeland Security Emergency Management
Check out our end-of-the-year report called, “Reasons why we’re proud 2021” that features highlights that the Center of Excellence for Homeland Security Emergency Management has worked on throughout the year! Visit the link and click on “Annual Reports” to see the list: https://www.coehsem.com/our-services/
Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing
2021 was a year of transitions. After 17 years, Executive Director Mary Kaye Bredeson retired in May. Jill Thornton capably filled in as Interim, with Everett Community College conducting an extensive search and selecting Jason Petrait as the Center's new Executive Director. Jason began in November, already meeting key stakeholders and orienting himself to the role.