Rockland Community College (RCC) has announced a partnership with Education Design Lab to design micro-pathways in advanced manufacturing, cannabis, healthcare, and other industries. The partnership is part of the Community College Growth Engine Fund initiative, which aims to create micro-pathways to accelerate economic mobility for new majority learner-earners. RCC is part of the Lab’s third cohort, which includes 18 colleges and is expected to grow to over 30 institutions by late spring.
Co-Building More Responsive Workforce Training Programs
The partnership between RCC and Education Design Lab will allow for the co-design of more responsive workforce training programs that meet the needs of learners, employers, and faculty. According to Kevin Stump, Vice President of Economic Mobility + Workforce Innovation for RCC, “Community colleges are well-positioned to create true career pathways that lead to increased economic mobility. Working with the Education Design Lab will give us the tools and resources to co-build more responsive workforce training programs with employers, faculty, and learners that can stack into a college degree, unlock the skills learners have, and help close the skills gap in the region.”
The Community College Growth Engine Fund Initiative
The Community College Growth Engine Fund initiative aims to create micro-pathways, a new class of credentials that are designed to be achieved within less than a year and result in a job at or above the local median wage. The micro-pathways are stackable credentials that include a 21st century skill micro-credential and start learners on the path to an associate degree. The initiative is designed to provide learners with more affordable, accessible, job-aligned routes to employment opportunities.
Partnering for Success
RCC is one of six community colleges in the Hudson Valley Education and Workforce Consortium, which is partnering with Education Design Lab to provide each college with a $50,000 grant to support the development of micro-pathways. The partnership comes on the heels of an investment in the consortium by SUNY to support the development of workforce pathways in advanced manufacturing and to reinforce the Hudson Valley’s workforce strategy to support the state’s emerging cannabis workforce needs.
The Benefits of Micro-Pathways
Micro-credentials are shorter, more focused programs that allow students to gain specific skills and knowledge in a particular field. These programs are flexible and nimble, allowing colleges to respond quickly to the changing needs of the workforce. Because micro-credentials are stackable, students can earn multiple credentials over time, building toward a degree or simply gaining the skills they need for a specific job.
