Addressing workforce needs and educational opportunity through board action

Abstract

Boards of trustees provide the policy, strategy, and accountability that set the direction for community colleges, all while being accountable to the states, regions, districts, and local areas they serve. One of those particular mission areas of community colleges is the preparation of the workforce to meet the needs of local economies and the simultaneous offering of relevant education that helps individuals achieve social and economic mobility. A critical component of that is to provide educational opportunities that allow individuals to continue to build on levels of education so that there are no "dead ends" as they progress through their careers. In this chapter, we discuss how Boards can embrace the TECH (transparency, equity, career, holistic) approach when governing colleges that address workforce needs and advance educational opportunities.