Learning Resources

Abstract: Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) has transformed its college model to address crucial issues such as demographic changes, meeting the needs of non-traditional students, and empowering underserved populations. To support and provide better access to a wider range of constituents, PGCC is reimagining their campus to elevate the community college experience while exploring the creation of two new full-service campuses. Come learn how the new PGCC campus model is meeting short and long-term needs that will serve broader populations, support evolving academic programs and workforce needs, and reduce educational inequities in the college system.

Abstract: Community colleges provide equitable access to higher education and pathways to sustainable careers. This session will show how Laurel Ridge Community College (LRCC) secured its role in the regional economy by aligning programs with community priorities and mapping students’ career pathways to inform facilities planning. Collaboration with industry and the community enabled LRCC to plan for expansion, relevant programs, and advanced facilities for science, technology, engineering, math, and health sciences (STEM-H). Join us to find out how an engaging, user-focused academic building can leverage both flexibility and specialization to support student success and attract partners.

Abstract: The jobs that power our economy are evolving daily and educational facilities must keep ahead of workforce demands in order to stay relevant to the students they serve. This is especially true for community colleges with vocational curricula, which have historically helped to lead communities out of recessions. Come learn how you can modify your educational facilities in response to emerging vocations and work with local laws, grants, and industry partners to build for changing curricula.

Abstract: Higher education must be observant to remain relevant. Institutional leadership and faculty can help close the workforce capacity gap by making meaningful connections with prospective students, the workforce, and industry partners. Metropolitan Community College (MCC) is changing their pipeline to increase workforce capacity by engaging nontraditional students in addition to re-evaluating academic and physical availability on their campus. In this session, you'll learn how you can enhance awareness of untapped populations to meet industry goals, evaluate opportunities to improve growth outcomes, and grow industry sponsorship investment through academic and equipment planning at your institution.

Abstract: This session will illustrate how industry-academic partnerships have led to the creation of cutting-edge, career-focused education that reimagines vocational training through a new, didactic construction sciences facility. With a skilled labor shortage in the construction industry, this program hopes to close that gap while creating an attractive, career-focused educational alternative to the traditional four-year college education. Beginning in middle and high schools and continuing through the workplace, developing new partnerships along the education continuum helps to reimagine workforce education and facilities to inspire the next generation of construction industry leaders.