Describes the Industry Quality Teams (IQTs) at Florida's Valencia Community College, an institution-wide effort to link the needs of a contemporary workforce to the classroom curriculum. Reviews the structure and functions of the college's six IQTs, indicating that they work to revise curricula, develop partnerships, implement marketing…

Describes the partnership between Deere & Company and Black Hawk College that provided a training program for John Deere suppliers, resulting in a cost-effective approach to upgrading supplier skills and improving Deere product quality. Lists benefits of supplier development and training. (YKH)

States that the U.S. economy exhibits a voracious demand for information technology (IT) certification programs and, it is claimed, the U.S. system of education isn't producing them. Explains that most IT certification providers operate outside the formal postsecondary education system, do not participate in federal student aid and reporting…

Describes how education and training providers can use organizational assessments to pinpoint a company's performance problems and deliver training services to help solve them. Assessments also help instructors understand the business context in which their company customers are operating, and to learn and use that business' particular "language."…

Examines the role of community colleges in the middle class's increased wages, the implementation of the School to Work Act, the impact of corporate partnerships, and the influence of global competition upon economic factors. Closes with a view of the central role that community colleges will play in the economic future of the country. Contains 18…