Two-year colleges are vitally important to Alabama's economy An economic necessity Despite recent troubles, two-year colleges remain vitally important
BYLINE: JIM HAYES and STEVE SEWELL, The Birmingham News
Two-year colleges are vitally important to Alabama's economy
An economic necessity
Despite recent troubles, two-year colleges remain vitally important to Alabama's economy
By JIM HAYES and STEVE SEWELL
The Birmingham News
Jim Hayes is president and Steve Sewell is executive vice president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. Readers can send them e-mail at info@edpa.org. 8Two-year U
nless you are just coming out of a year-long coma, you do not need to be reminded that Alabama's two-year college system is embroiled in a full-blown crisis. But while this unfortunate saga dominates all of the attention directed toward postsecondary education, the role of two-year institutions grows significantly more important to our state's economic development.
It may be overly ambitious to try to start a conversation about the growing relevance of the two-year colleges during the current turmoil, but it is a discussion we ought to have if we are truly concerned about the state's future competitiveness.
As necessary steps are taken to uncover and deal with improprieties in the system, the work of aligning the two-year colleges with the needs of business and industry - and with the efforts of economic development officials - is more important than ever.
If Alabama is to continue the economic growth that it has worked hard to achieve, two-year schools will need to take on an even greater role. With existing industries growing and with a large number of prospective companies considering the state, there is little time to waste.
Alabama's two-year colleges are already a valued and critical ally in economic development. Despite the serious problems that confront the system, two-year institutions in Alabama are hitting the mark in areas that directly impact the state's ability to attract and retain quality jobs.
From preparing future workers with the education and skills they need to work in a competitive environment to partnering with local industry on work force development and technology transfer, two-year colleges are indispensable to Alabama's economy.
Today, the work force is easily the top concern for both prospective and existing industries in the state. Companies are focused not just on finding bodies to fill slots, but attracting well-qualified candidates who can think, work in teams, communicate effectively and solve problems.
Companies are also seeking employees who possess specialized training and education that many of our two year institutions are adept at providing.
Alabama can claim great success in training workers for jobs at Honda, Mercedes, Boeing and other leading companies. Recently, Alabama Industrial Development Training was again ranked No. 1 in the nation in an annual survey of the top state training programs - the second time in three years that it has earned that distinction.
In addition to being part of the two-year system itself, AIDT relies heavily on the two-year colleges to prepare and equip individuals with the education and skills necessary for many of these jobs. Economic developers have become accustomed to seeing AIDT work near-miracles when it comes to job-specific training to meet industry's needs.
But, AIDT is at the mercy of the state's education system to provide individuals who are capable of being trained to work in a world-class environment.
As we look to compete for investment from leading companies that demand skilled and educated employees, the two-year schools factor even more significantly. It's estimated that more than 80 percent of new jobs in coming years will require some postsecondary education. These are the jobs most coveted by Alabama and other states and communities.
It is becoming more common to see a company include among its key criteria the presence of a two-year college with programs that can produce workers with the requisite skills. Economic developers often cite the two-year schools and their programs in the pitch to prospective companies.
For years, we have been hearing industry representatives tell us that a high school graduate no longer meets their requirements for a prospective employee. More and more, these companies are looking for job candidates who have a two-year education and/or technical training. And, they often want to establish a close relationship with a two-year institution for continuing work force training and education.
To their credit, representatives from the two-year colleges have consistently been willing and enthusiastic partners in the state's economic development efforts, oftentimes anticipating a need and initiating a response.
For instance, two-year colleges joined together on their own to develop and implement a common automotive curriculum to prepare workers for this important growth industry. When the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association decided to create a scholarship program to encourage students to pursue careers in auto manufacturing, it was an easy decision for the organization to partner with postsecondary education.
Two-year colleges have also developed curriculum and degree programs to support other key industries, including aerospace, aviation and shipbuilding. Additionally, they have responded to, and actively sought relationships with, business and industry.
Two-year institutions in the state have strategic partnerships with major employers such as Boeing, Hyundai and Sikorsky Aircraft.
More than 280,000 people were served by programs of the Alabama college system last year, including more than 6,700 displaced workers who lost their jobs due to layoffs or plant closings.
The average student enrolled in the 21 colleges and four technical schools is 28 years old, which means that a large number are working full or part time, trying to obtain the education or skills that will give them, and their families, an opportunity for a better life.
With record low unemployment, an aging population and slow population growth, Alabama needs all of those individuals to become productive members of the work force. Two-year colleges offer the best opportunity for that to occur.
It's clear that the two-year crisis is far from over. As it unfolds, we should remind ourselves of the substantial contribution the two-year colleges make to the state, and determine how we can make better use of their assets to support Alabama's growth.