Investing in public higher education and encouraging collaboration between public colleges and private companies is the best way for the state to have a skilled workforce.
That was the main message regional college and high-tech industry representatives shared with members of the State House Higher Education Committee during a day-long work session Thursday, Oct. 13, at Skagit Valley College.
The work session, called a "chautauqua," was one of five being held around the state by the committee so legislators can gather information about what the state higher education system needs before the Legislature's special session begins in November.
Thursday's meeting focused on aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries, with additional discussions about the budget situation and what colleges are doing to adapt to the changing needs of students.
According to representatives from private companies, including Boeing, Pro CNC and Heath Tecna, despite the still sluggish economy, the aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies are growing. But they need colleges to attract and produce more graduates with the technical skills and experience necessary to do the jobs.
"Aerospace is one of the fastest growing (industries)," Lara Henderson, human resources manager for Heath Tecna, told the committee members. "We can basically guarantee full-time work to anyone coming out of the college system and the engineering programs for at least the next three or four years, and we hope longer after that."
Colleges have been increasingly focusing on high-demand fields, but with the state budget situation, college representatives said it can be difficult to keep up with technological advancements. Several programs have partnerships with private companies, with the companies donating equipment and offering internships to students. In exchange, the companies end up with skilled employees ready to work right out of school.
Tony Kuphaldt, instrumentation and control technology instructor at Bellingham Technical College, said the BP Cherry Point Refinery regularly offers internships to students and donates to the program, providing benefits for both the school and the company.
But for the colleges to be able to produce more graduates, they need to work to meet the students where they are. One way colleges have been doing that over the past couple years is through online programs. At Whatcom Community College, the number of students taking online or hybrid programs has increased from the equivalent of about 11,700 full-time students in fall 2006 to about 24,000 in fall 2010. And enrollment in those types of programs is up another 15 percent this fall, according to Linda Maier, dean for Workforce Education at WCC.
Committee Chair Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, said legislators have been told that while online programs may reduce the need for physical buildings on college campuses, the cost isn't necessarily less than the current model.
WCC Maier agreed that the cost isn't less at this point, but if the state wants an educated and skilled workforce, then online is the way to go.
"We know it's not a cheap way to deliver instruction because we have to train faculty in a new pedagogy, and technology, and secure funds for new technology," Maier said. "However when we see the access it creates for students who are place-bound or have family and working responsibilities, who otherwise would not be able to access education and training, we feel it's an excellent investment in our future and workforce."
Several students shared their stories about how college and financial aid are allowing them to turn around their lives. They echoed other comments from earlier in the discussing, urging the legislators to not cut higher education funding again this year.
"We understand the importance of education. ... I think everyone on this committee wants the best for students and the best for our state," said Rep. Vincent Buys, R-Lynden. "With that said, it comes down to priorities."
Buys said that the state collects enough taxes to support higher education, especially with the universities having tuition-setting flexibility, but that there needs to be priorities within the state and the higher education system about where to spend the money.
"Funding comes from a lot of different areas," he said. "We have the revenue, we have the taxes to cover education, we have the taxes to cover public safety, but it's about priorities. If education is going to be a top priority, let's fund that first."
Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, agreed that education is important and should be a priority, but that collaboration between schools and businesses is the key to producing skilled employees to work within the high-demand fields in the state.
"The state cannot fund education all on our own," she said, continuing later, "The fact the industry is willing to step up and the schools are willing to work with the industry is very encouraging to me."
