Beyond the Finish Line: To Ensure That Students Succeed in the Workforce, Community Colleges Strategically Partner with Local Employers

The skills gap--the disparity between job openings and job seekers in an employment category--is wider in some sectors and parts of the country than others. The disconnect between community colleges and employers perpetuates the skills gap. Despite the current push among educators, politicians, and employers to increase completion rates, that laudable goal is often just the first step in either getting students into the workforce or advancing incumbent workers' careers. There is a growing recognition that workers need continuous education, both in an academic setting and on the job, which will help close the skills gap--and keep it closed. This article discusses how Macomb Community College (MCC) in Warren, Michigan; Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), Florida; Global Corporate College (GCC) in Solon, Ohio; and Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) in Pendleton, Oregon, have refocused relationships with employers to discover the dominant needs in local economies, and then customized training programs to help close the skills gap.