South West Arkansas Community College Consortium (SWACCC): Re-Engineering Employer Engagement

South West Arkansas is among the poorest regions of the country - a place where poverty and unemployment are endemic. This proposal seeks to ignite the untapped potential of the region's employers to widen postsecondary access channels and drive even more postsecondary educational attainment. In partnership with regional manufacturing employers, three strategies are pursued: (1) Engage regional employers in sector partnerships to enhance one or more sets of stacked and latticed credentials, (2) Significantly leverage employers to integrate “in-plant” work-based learning opportunities into systems of stacked and latticed credentials, and (3) Enhance student advisement and career counseling systems in partnership with employers. Credentials to be awarded include non-credit and credit certificates, associate degrees, and industry-certified credentials.