Language in the budget passed by the 2015 General Assembly directs Virginia’s Community College System (VCCS) to create a plan to increase the number of workforce certifications, licensures and credentials earned to meet the growing needs of Virginia employers. VACo members identified an increased focus on workforce credentials and partnerships between key stakeholders on workforce issues as a 2015 legislative priority.
VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois will lead a series of town hall meetings across Virginia this spring to capture the local and regional needs of business, community and elected-leaders. The information collected through this process will aid in the writing of the plan that will occur throughout the summer.
The plan will be shared with the Governor’s Office and the General Assembly by September 1, 2015 for consideration during the 2016 legislative session.
Virginia will have to fill 1.5 million jobs over the next decade, according to state economic experts. More than half of them will demand a licensure, apprenticeship or certification – not a traditional college degree. These will be among the most highly demanded jobs and the most numerous available.
The purpose of the tour will be to learn more about the credentialed workforce needs in communities; raise awareness of those needs; and identify partners throughout Virginia who share common cause on the issue.
County elected and appointed officials are encouraged to attend these meetings to ensure that the workforce development efforts and needs of your county are recognized in the plan submitted to the Governor and General Assembly.
VACo Contact: Erik Johnston, CAE
| Date | Time | Community College (CC) |
| April 8 | 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. | J. Sargeant Reynolds CC, Parham Campus, Henrico County Community College Workforce Alliance |
| April 8 | 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. | Piedmont CC, Charlottesville, Main Administration Building |
| April 15 | 9 – 10:15 a.m. | Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Abingdon |
| April 15 | 3 – 4:15 p.m. | New River CC, Christiansburg Mall, Room 123 |
| April 23 | 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Thomas Nelson CC, Hampton (location TBA) |
| April 23 | 3 – 4:15 p.m. | Rappahannock CC (location TBA) |
| April 29 | 9 – 10:15 a.m. | Blue Ridge CC (location TBA) |
| April 29 | 3 – 4:15 p.m. | Paul D. Camp CC, Franklin Regional Workforce Development Center |
| May 5 | 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Northern Virginia CC (location TBA) |
| May 5 | 3 – 4:15 p.m. | Germanna CC, Fredericksburg Campus Sealy Auditorium |
| May 13 | 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Lord Fairfax CC, Middletown Campus Science & Health Professions Building |
| May 13 | 3 – 4:15 p.m. | Tidewater Community College, Virginia Beach Joint Use Library |
| May 19 | 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Central Virginia CC, Lynchburg (Merritt Hall) |
| May 19 | 3 – 4:15 p.m. | Dabney S. Lancaster CC (location TBA) |
| May 27 | 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Virginia Western CC, Roanoke Business Science Building |
| May 27 | 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. | Danville Community College (location TBA) |
For more information contact Ellen Davenport, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations with VCCS at 804-819-4969 or edavenport@vccs.edu.
