It is hard to imagine a more critical time for helping the low-skilled and disenfranchised youth in our communities to become gainfully employed. Even as the nation suffers through its worst economic downturn in decades, America's business and industry leaders are predicting an unprecedented shortage of educated and skilled workers to meet the…

The Adopt-a-School program, a successful pairing of businesses with Anaheim Union High School District's 20 schools, has benefited California students through increased work exposure and career guidance. Communities have profited as well, by gaining access to a skilled work force. (CJH)

School districts and businesses in Spokane, Washington, have formed successful learning partnerships that provide students with vocational training, also benefiting teachers and the professional providers through increased understanding of each other's roles. (CJH)

A review of the literature on human resource development (HRD) and HRD programs is presented. Topics include: (1) two definitions of HRD (Nadler 1983 and the American Society for Training and Development); (2) an analysis of those definitions; (3) the importance of HRD to organizations and individuals; (4) descriptions of types of HRD programs…

The Adopt-a-School program, involving the 50 schools of Augusta, Georgia, has increased community commitment to public education. Assisted by business and community organizations, each school's program includes needs assessment and human resources development. (CJH)

Provides information on the Putting America to Work Project of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges. Highlights examples of community college-industry partnerships. (DMM)

By committing to the development of partnerships between businesses and their institutions, board members will reinforce higher education's role in making the country competitive again. The result will be a nation whose workers are continuously educated and a university whose role in workforce development is more widely understood and valued.…

To establish high employability in the United States, higher education, other educational providers, workers, employers, unions, state and federal governments must create partnerships. Coalition must have a shared agenda and concrete programs to advance it. The value of college credentials may diminish, but the value of teaching expertise will…

A new report, "Spanning the Chasm: Corporate and Academic Cooperation To Improve Work-Force Preparation," offers recommendations on how the two sectors can cooperate to provide college students with the skills needed in the workplace, which corporate leaders feel graduates now lack. Corporate, alumni, and college perspectives on student…

Sixty profiles are presented that demonstrate actual contracting in practice between organizations and colleges for the provision of instruction to employees, clients, or members. The objective is to assist colleges in the early stages of developing such arrangements, as well as to guide organizations that are considering this approach. Contracts…

This document focuses on the need for public schools in the United States to develop the capacity of individuals to participate successfully in the nation's economy. An introduction discusses the impact of schools on the American economy and the effects of the economy on education. Section 2 lists objectives to which the American education system…

The current state of corporate education and the role played in it by U.S. colleges and universities are examined in this book, whose comprehensive framework brings both business and higher education into the process of upgrading and maintaining the skills of the American workforce. Attitudes, procedures, and policies that block increased…

As part of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges' Putting America Back to Work Project, this monograph examines the economic climate of the United States and the role of the community colleges in economic recovery. The first sections outline the origins and initial activities of the Putting America Back to Work Project, which…

Community colleges have the opportunity to systematically link their mission and role to national economic purposes and human resource development strategies. To take advantage of this opportunity, community college leaders, at the national, state and institutional levels, must be willing to commit to a new understanding of the roles these…

Reviews approaches taken by Oregon, Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, South Carolina, North Carolina, and California to incorporate community college systems into statewide economic development strategies. Approaches focus on small business assistance; anticipation of community needs; incentives for innovation; technology transfer; comprehensive…