2. Our Mission
• Identify community
needs
• Provide accessible,
quality education
and training
• Promote
opportunities for
lifelong learning
3. Who We Are
• What our graduates have to say
• 97 percent were satisfied with their Kirkwood
education.
• 92 percent believed their time at Kirkwood prepared
them well for their careers.
• 90 percent are currently employed.
• 95 percent live or work in Iowa.
4. Labor-Market Responsive
Community College
• Learner Success Agenda
• Framework for improving economic strength,
workforce strength and quality of life for our
region.
• By 2016, we will increase first-time, full-time
degree seeking graduation and certificate
completion rate (within 150% time frame) from
29 to 38 percent.
• Strengthen Kirkwood’s regional leadership role in
workforce development.
• Adapt training programs and services to changing
occupational and community needs.
5. Workforce Investment Board
A governor appointed regional workforce board that
works to ensure the workforce system is aligned to
regional workforce skill needs by:
•analyzing regional labor market data,
•developing strategies,
•ensuring funding streams align and support
critical skill needs and regional occupations, and
•oversees the regional workforce system
(IowaWORKS and WIA).
6. IowaWORKS
• Serve as partner agency in the region’s
integrated one-stop, IowaWORKS
• Locations in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids
• Service Provider for the Workforce
Investment Act Program
• Liaison support for the Regional
Workforce Investment Board
7. Workforce Tools
• Kirkwood Community College works to ensure that
community college workforce tools align and support
regional workforce needs from a labor market and
targeted population perspective.
• To align education and training programs with the
needs of the local economy several tools and
methods are used:
• Labor market data
• Local employer data
• Industry sector boards
• Focus groups
• Advisory committees
• Regional service plan
• Public policy work
8. Workforce Tools
• Audiences served include:
• Kirkwood Community College Students
• Academic – one-year diploma, two-year
degree
• Continuing Professional Education – Short
term certificate and skills credential programs
• Employer Contracted Training – Incumbent
worker training
• Targeted populations
• Supporting Tools (funding)
• Job Training (260E/F)
• GAP Tuition Assistance
• Workforce Training Fund
• Grants/Private Foundations
10. In-Demand Training Programs
• Kirkwood develops programs in response to
regional workforce and labor needs:
– Energy Production & Distribution Degree
– Advanced Manufacturing Technology Degree
– Logistics Certification
– Pharmacy Tech Diploma
– Customer Service Professional Certification
– KICK STEM Camps
– Jones Regional CNC and Welding Boot Camp
– Industry Consortiums, Sector Boards, and Advisory Committees
– CNC Machining / Introduction to Manufacturing Careers
– Claims Management – the Business of Healthcare
– Medical Laboratory Technologists
• Business partners hire program graduates to meet
workforce needs
11. Supporting Community Initiatives
• Kirkwood Pathways for Academic Career Education and
Employment:
• A partnership between Kirkwood Community College, the United
Way of East Central Iowa, community-based organizations and local
employers.
• Comprehensive career pathway programs to facilitate low-skilled
adults’ success in postsecondary education and training.
• Support individuals’ abilities to advance over time to successively
higher levels of education and employment, helping them gain
financial stability along the way.
• The program weaves together basic skills training, workplace
readiness training, academic learning and credential attainment,
preparing the students for work in local industries that have a
shortage of qualified employees. (a blending of non-credit and
credit programs)
• Pathway Navigator Role works with participants to navigate the
educational environment and pathway. Provides public benefit
access support services.
12.
13. Public Policy Work –
National Skills Coalition
• Partner with state organizations and United Way to create
and support public policy that ensures all Iowans have the
skills to drive economic growth and security.
• Policy foundations:
– GAP and PACE legislation to address the skills gap and help more adult
workers access the necessary education and training required by jobs in
today’s labor market.
– Industry Sector coalitions support the development of regional
industry partnerships that create opportunities to build customized
just-in-time, in-demand training solutions for the industry.
– Accessing Public Benefits. The number one reason students drop out
of college is for financial reasons. Colleges are developing models that
are embedding benefits access activities into college processes to
reduce financial constraints on students.
14. Regional Education Centers
• Provides hands-on workforce training
education to High School Juniors and Seniors
• Collaboration with over 40 school districts
• Will serve over 1,250 students annually
• Provides seamless transition to post-
secondary education or work
15. COMING SOON
• Linn County Regional Center
Boyson Road in Hiawatha (former PAETECH building).
Set to open January 2013.
• Johnson County Regional Center
University of Iowa Oakdale Campus. Set to open Fall 2015.
• Washington County Regional Center
Site TBA. Set to open Fall 2013.
• Kirkwood Continuing Education Training
Center
New transportation, environmental, fire and safety training
center
