Workforce and Economic Vitality Council

Goals and Work Groups

Goals

Our Goal: To enhance the economic vitality of our communities by ensuring the College is alert and responsive to emerging workforce needs. In specific, we seek to provide a coordinated point of contact for our business partners and act as a point team for statewide and local workforce efforts with our WIB, our chamber partners, Worksource Oregon, and CCWD’s Workforce Strategies. Through this process, we will continue to connect with and inform our Linn Benton Community.

The Workforce and Economic Vitality Council works to...

Support a culture of workforce responsiveness in programming, services and operations.

Facilitate college-wide conversations among those working with community partners in supporting the economic vitality of our communities.

Advance LBCC’s mission by stimulating consistent, flexible, and innovative responses to existing and emerging workforce needs.
Keep business, organizations and the College community informed about how we are serving the community related to their workforce needs.
Advise the President and staff on significant issues relating to interfacing with the community on workforce issues and economic development.
Advise the President and staff on directions to take in response to major community initiatives, e.g. the cities’ strategic planning for economic development.
Make budget recommendations to the President and the Budget Team to further the College’s commitment to community training and economic initiatives.
Advocate for funding, including pursuing grants and external funds, for innovative programs that respond to community workforce needs and interests.
Serve as a forum for new ideas and initiatives with individuals representing different parts of the College and diverse points of view.
Analyze data collected within the College on community/workforce relations and translate the data into action.
Strengthen the connections between the Community strategic plan element and institutional effectiveness efforts.
Develop and implement a comprehensive plan of Career and Technical Education program development and continuous improvement (including high school partnerships, Contracted Training, Small Business Development Center, CTE, new programs and business partnerships.
Develop and implement a marketing strategy for Career and Technical Education Programs.

Council Work Groups

The purpose of the work groups formed within the Workforce and Economic Vitality Council is to respond to and advance the objectives given by MERIT, as listed on the MERIT report cards.

Programs Respond to the Needs of Their External Partners
a. A target percentage of career technical education (CTE) programs submit advisory committee meeting minutes.
    i. Team members: Ann Buchele, Chris Ruderman
b. Enhance CTE student experience -- Require DACUM on every CTE program no less than every seven (7) years
    i. Team members: Jeff Davis, David Bird, Dale Moon, Malinda Shell, Sherry O'Boyle, Charlie Mitchell
c. Develop a web/telephone portal with a single point of contact for both employers looking for workers and students looking for jobs
    i. Team members: Linda Carroll, David Bird, Charlie Mitchell
Students Receive an Affordable Education
(NOTE: This work is done under the umbrella of the Progression Management Council, although WEVC is responsible for shepherding this work and reporting to the college budget team.)
a. Average textbook price is less than the target. (Work is done by the Textbook Affordability Steering Committee)
b. A target percent of incoming students apply for financial aid. (Work is done in conjunction with the Financial Aid Dept)
Graduates Achieve Success After College
a. A target percentage of career and technical education (CTE) graduates are employed.
i. Team members: Linda Carroll, Lena Carr, Marci Johnston
b. A target percentage of transfer graduates are enrolled at a four-year institution.
i. Team members: Linda Carroll, Joyce Thompson-Graham, Tammi Drury