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Community
College Leaders, Economic Development Leaders And Educators To Discuss
Professional Development
August 13, 2002--Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and community college leaders from around the state will gather in Charlottesville later this month to kick off a new initiative designed to improve training and establish standards for professionals in workforce development in Virginia. The 2002 Workforce Development Academy, to be held Aug. 25-28 at the University of Virginia, will bring together experts in workforce development to define the competencies required to work as a professional in this emerging field with the ultimate goal of providing certification for higher education and government professionals. "Creating a Workforce Development Academy," will begin Sunday at 4:45 p.m. at the Charlottesville Omni Hotel. It is co-sponsored by the Virginia Community College System and U.Va's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. "What makes the program really exciting is that the academy is a true partnership between the Virginia Community College System and U.Va. with both partners equally invested in the vision of the program," said Donna Klepper, director of the Charlottesville Center School of Continuing and Professional Studies. "We believe that the common resources uniquely position us to create the nationšs first certification program that is targeted specifically to the workforce development profession and that is based on research, field experience and the expertise of professionals in community colleges and economic development." Program highlights include talks by Kaine and Virginia Community College System Chancellor Glenn DuBois. P. Anthony "Tony" Zeiss, president of Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C., will facilitate a session on how to "Assess and Implement Effective Workforce Development Through Community Colleges." Zeiss is nationally known for his innovative approaches to community college funding in an effort to prevent turning away students. Born out of a 1998 Virginia legislative initiative, the Virginia Community College System has been charged with directing workforce training at the postsecondary to the associate degree level, excluding vocational and technical education provided through the public schools. The community colleges currently provide flexible credit or non-credit programs and services to meet the training needs of business and industry. The 2002 Workforce Development Academy will provide the groundwork for a program of courses and training for community college and economic development professionals with the goal of offering a fully developed Workforce Development Academy in 2003. The curriculum will focus on emerging issues in workforce development, adult learning, economic development, environmental scanning, instructional design and international perspectives, as well as core content areas designed by workforce development practitioners. This inaugural event hopes to bring together experts in workforce development to identify skill standards and course needs for the academy. The ultimate goal is to certify workforce development professionals in Virginia and throughout the nation. ### For more information, contact Donna Klepper, director, Charlottesville center School of Continuing and Professional Studies, at (434) 982-5315. For a schedule of events, go to the Virginia Workforce Development Services Web site, at http://www.vccs.edu/workforce/academy/institute02.htm Media Contact: Katherine Jackson, (434) 924-3629 |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact the Office
of University Relations at (434) 924-7116. Television reporters
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