How can colleges better connect education to real-world outcomes: good jobs, in-demand skills, and credentials that mean something to employers? Join a free micro-chat hosted by Workcred and Houston Community College (HCC) to find out.
Strengthening Career Pathways through State and Institutional Policy Alignment
Aligning Credentials to Workforce Needs
Higher education policy is under pressure to deliver outcomes that matter: jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage, workforce readiness, and industry credentials that employers recognize and value. Meeting these outcomes requires intentional policy alignment in how credentials are developed and awarded — so learners can successfully enter the workforce or continue their education.
The session will explore how HCC created processes—applicable across its workforce programs—to assure curricula reflect regional workforce needs, every award meets the definition of a credential of value, and programs are structured so that students can stack credentials and advance along clear pathways into the workforce or higher education.
HCC will share how, throughout the processes, focus remained on balancing financial sustainability with student success. The session will also offer recommendations and lessons learned from HCC’s work that can benefit other community colleges.
