Community colleges have long taken pride in their ability to adjust to changing workforce needs. They adjust when local plumbers union requires a new certification. They also adjust when a biotechnology manufacturer seeks workers to staff its state-of-the-art research facility. But what happens when a new industry materializes almost overnight?…

This article describes the League for Innovation in the Community College which will be celebrating throughout 2008 its 40th anniversary as one of the oldest and most significant organizations in the community college world. Created in 1968, when community colleges were being established at the rate of one per week, the League became a beacon for…

Argues that, despite doubts created by the "dot-com" crash, the field of information technology (IT) is still crucial. Credentialing and certification are in demand by adults in the transitional workforce who require tangible results in a short time frame. Suggests that even non-IT companies are dependent on those in IT to run the nerve-centers of…

Offers a comprehensive view of the information technology (IT) workforce in the U.S., based on a report by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA). The report quantifies the size and scope of the IT workforce, its geographical distribution, skills preferences, future demand, and predicted shortfalls. (AUTH/NB)

As an unsettled economy continues to behave in volatile ways, forecasters are predicting that a new generation of innovative technologies holds the promise of both driving economic recovery and sparking an extended period of economic expansion in America. If such forecasts are on target, there will be many opportunities for businesses and…

Suggests that, although technical skills are important, soft skills still make a critical difference in hiring in high-tech fields. Defines soft skills as the ability to think critically, work in teams, share ideas, and perform other non-technological tasks. Describes a study that found that employers still see a four-year college degree as the…

Argues that, despite national data showing a limited role for associate-degree-only graduates in information technology (IT) occupations, the high levels of enrollment, low graduation rates, and large numbers of older students suggest that community colleges are functioning as retraining institutions rather than primary training institutions.…

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) clearly identifies community colleges as integral players in creating a high quality workforce. With multiple funding streams, greater local control over system design, and a mandate for universal access, community colleges must be able to address the client tracking and data management challenges that…

The rapid rise of the information technology industry, with its need for highly skilled technicians, programmers and support personnel, has accelerated the demand for education and technology training throughout the world--and has accelerated the rise of credentialing and certification programs. Two affiliate councils of the American Association…