NOVA career training programs essential to region’s economic growth
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| NOVA President Robert Templin (left) speaks to the Committee of 100. Next to him is the committee’s president, David Huddleston. |
Whether the Northern Virginia economy will to continue to
grow depends on the ability of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) to train enough “middle-tier, highly skilled,
high tech-savvy employees” to meet companies’ workforce needs.
grow depends on the ability of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) to train enough “middle-tier, highly skilled,
high tech-savvy employees” to meet companies’ workforce needs.
That’s the message NOVA President Robert G. Templin Jr.
brought to the Committee of 100, a group of Fairfax County business officials
and civic leaders.
brought to the Committee of 100, a group of Fairfax County business officials
and civic leaders.
If we fail to invest in developing a skilled workforce,
science and technology companies will leave the area, and “we’ll find ourselves
in a real pickle,” Templin told the
group Oct.18.
science and technology companies will leave the area, and “we’ll find ourselves
in a real pickle,” Templin told the
group Oct.18.
Over the next 10 years, projected economic growth in the
region and an aging workforce facing a large wave of retirements could leave
the area with 650,000 hard-to-fill job vacancies, Templin said. Many of these
jobs require an associate degree or a certificate—not necessarily a bachelor’s
degree.
region and an aging workforce facing a large wave of retirements could leave
the area with 650,000 hard-to-fill job vacancies, Templin said. Many of these
jobs require an associate degree or a certificate—not necessarily a bachelor’s
degree.
That means NOVA, with 78,000 students a year in credit
courses on six campuses, has to be the key workforce training provider in the
region. Based in Annandale, NOVA is the largest higher education institution in Virginia and the
second largest community college in the United States.
Fifteen years ago, Templin began to see some troubling
signs: Too many people were “lingering on the periphery of our economy,” delivering
pizzas for Domino’s or working two or three low-paying, part-time dead-end jobs.
signs: Too many people were “lingering on the periphery of our economy,” delivering
pizzas for Domino’s or working two or three low-paying, part-time dead-end jobs.
The experience of Southern California offers a cautionary
tale, he says. “That region used to be the epicenter of the knowledge economy,
but people were upset by the rapid growth of immigration and they let the
school deteriorate.” As a result, companies couldn’t find enough qualified
employees, so they moved away—many of them, including Northrop Grumman and
SAIC, relocated to Tysons Corner. Now, the same cycle could happen here,
Templin warns.
tale, he says. “That region used to be the epicenter of the knowledge economy,
but people were upset by the rapid growth of immigration and they let the
school deteriorate.” As a result, companies couldn’t find enough qualified
employees, so they moved away—many of them, including Northrop Grumman and
SAIC, relocated to Tysons Corner. Now, the same cycle could happen here,
Templin warns.
“That is the issue NOVA is working on right now,” he says,
expressing optimism that with the right kind of education programs in place, tech
companies and other businesses will continue to flourish.
expressing optimism that with the right kind of education programs in place, tech
companies and other businesses will continue to flourish.
Templin outlined three programs at NOVA aimed at ensuring
people have the education to move into better-paying, in-demand jobs.
people have the education to move into better-paying, in-demand jobs.
The Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program serves about 10,000
students this year in 48 high schools. It focuses on lower-income students whose
parents didn’t go to college and didn’t think they would be able to either.
Those students receive counseling and other support in high school, financial
aid to attend NOVA, and, after they graduate, guaranteed admission to George Mason University.
students this year in 48 high schools. It focuses on lower-income students whose
parents didn’t go to college and didn’t think they would be able to either.
Those students receive counseling and other support in high school, financial
aid to attend NOVA, and, after they graduate, guaranteed admission to George Mason University.
In another initiative, NOVA is working with eight
organizations, including Goodwill and Northern Virginia Family Services, to
provide marketable skills to underemployed adults, many of them single mothers.
organizations, including Goodwill and Northern Virginia Family Services, to
provide marketable skills to underemployed adults, many of them single mothers.
Finally, NOVA is supporting programs, such as summer camps
and robotics competitions, to get middle-school
students excited about pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) fields. Once students get to high school, it could be too late
to get on track for a STEM-related major in college if they aren’t prepared for
advanced math and science courses.
and robotics competitions, to get middle-school
students excited about pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) fields. Once students get to high school, it could be too late
to get on track for a STEM-related major in college if they aren’t prepared for
advanced math and science courses.
People might have a perception that NOVA is only for
students who can’t get into a university, but Templin dispels that notion,
noting that the community college offers an excellent education with small
classes and dedicated teachers—for about half the cost as a public four-year
college.
students who can’t get into a university, but Templin dispels that notion,
noting that the community college offers an excellent education with small
classes and dedicated teachers—for about half the cost as a public four-year
college.
In fact, all of Templin’s 14 kids (11 are adopted) started their
higher education at NOVA. Before transferring to a four-year college, “they
have to demonstrate they are serious about college and can do the work,” he
says.
higher education at NOVA. Before transferring to a four-year college, “they
have to demonstrate they are serious about college and can do the work,” he
says.
Students who graduate from NOVA “do as well as or slightly
better than those who start at a university,” Templin says. People who earn an associate
degree in applied science from NOVA, on average, earn $2,500 more a year than
people with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.
better than those who start at a university,” Templin says. People who earn an associate
degree in applied science from NOVA, on average, earn $2,500 more a year than
people with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.
NOVA has agreements with all the public universities in
Virginia, including UVA, William and Mary, and Virginia Tech, guaranteeing
admission to NOVA graduates.
Virginia, including UVA, William and Mary, and Virginia Tech, guaranteeing
admission to NOVA graduates.
Unfortunately, Templin noted, while a quarter of the region’s high school graduates go
to NOVA, “more than half of them are not ready for college.” He cited several
reasons: Their parents aren’t engaged in their learning. There is no
relationship between Virginia’s Standards of Learning and college readiness. And
students learning the English language in high school end up taking fewer
English or math courses.
to NOVA, “more than half of them are not ready for college.” He cited several
reasons: Their parents aren’t engaged in their learning. There is no
relationship between Virginia’s Standards of Learning and college readiness. And
students learning the English language in high school end up taking fewer
English or math courses.
Those students often have to take a year of remedial coursework
at NOVA, for which they don’t get credit, so many get frustrated and drop out
of college.
at NOVA, for which they don’t get credit, so many get frustrated and drop out
of college.
Templin and Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Jack Dale
developed a dual enrollment pilot program in eight high schools to address that
problem. Students in those schools are tested in the ninth and 10th grades to
see whether they are on track and what they need to catch up. In the 12th
grade, they take some NOVA courses for free and earn college credits while
completing high school.
developed a dual enrollment pilot program in eight high schools to address that
problem. Students in those schools are tested in the ninth and 10th grades to
see whether they are on track and what they need to catch up. In the 12th
grade, they take some NOVA courses for free and earn college credits while
completing high school.
In addition to educating high school graduates who want to
transfer to four-year colleges, NOVA provides customized training for specific
companies; continuing education for adults, including many with bachelor’s
degrees who want to change careers; English language instruction to diplomats
and foreign professionals; training for the region’s police officers,
firefighters, and EMT providers; and, most important to the region’s economy,
vocational and technical education for the kind of jobs that don’t need a
bachelor’s degree.
transfer to four-year colleges, NOVA provides customized training for specific
companies; continuing education for adults, including many with bachelor’s
degrees who want to change careers; English language instruction to diplomats
and foreign professionals; training for the region’s police officers,
firefighters, and EMT providers; and, most important to the region’s economy,
vocational and technical education for the kind of jobs that don’t need a
bachelor’s degree.
Templin notes that occupations in such areas as geospatial
technology, cybersecurity, and respiratory therapy are in demand and pay well.
For example, a person with an associate degree in a specialized healthcare
field willing to put in some overtime can earn $90,000 to $100,000 a year.
technology, cybersecurity, and respiratory therapy are in demand and pay well.
For example, a person with an associate degree in a specialized healthcare
field willing to put in some overtime can earn $90,000 to $100,000 a year.
The biggest problem at NOVA is the lack of capacity to
expand, Templin said. It’s open seven days a week, with classes often in
session from 6 a.m.-11 p.m., and the parking lot at the Annandale campus is
full just about all the time.
expand, Templin said. It’s open seven days a week, with classes often in
session from 6 a.m.-11 p.m., and the parking lot at the Annandale campus is
full just about all the time.