Maximizing Return On Your Community's Higher Ed Presence

On June 1 2020, IEDC hosted a webinar entitled “Maximizing Return On Your Community's Higher Ed Presence” where experts discussed the role Higher Education Institutions (HEI) occupy as communities strengthen their quality of life scorecards, build talent, diversify their economic base and plan post-COVID19 recovery. These institutions are community anchors capable of offering a range of ways to support talent, innovation and place objectives of economic development, so universities and economic developers discussed how to strengthen partnerships and possibilities that result in better business attraction and retention, entrepreneurship, and quality of life.

Joel Simon, Managing Director of Workforce Strategies at Burning Glass Technologies, and Chair of IEDC’s Higher Education Advisory Committee moderated the session of three speakers: Dr. Joe May, Chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District; Barbara Mistick, President of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; and Sheila Martin, Vice President of Economic Development & Community Engagement at the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities.

Mr. Simon contextualized the webinar by outlining how HEIs are anchor institutions in communities; they offer a sense of stability in the context of economic development as they have a permanent presence in communities (in contrast to fluctuating political administrations and businesses).

HEIs provide fundamental functions within our economy in the following ways:

  • They prepare our workforce and supply business and industry with talent
  • They are incubators of the innovation space where new research is developed, and patents are obtained
  • They embedded in the arts and culture of many communities

Simon outlined the various themes related to COVID-19 that his organization is monitoring through data which the speakers elaborated on:

  1. Remote work and learning – How are HEIs adapting to online learning and student accessibility? We need to be looking at community investments in broadband as a key function of this
  2. Reshoring – the role that HEIs play in reimagining distribution channels due to supply chain difficulties, medical equipment and PPE manufacturing, and partnerships with local business
  3. Automation – in the wake of a recession automation accelerates. HEIs need to look at its disruptive force and how it augments/changes the future of work and the skills our workforce needs to adapt to these changes
  4. Human skills in a distanced world – It is harder to communicate over digital channels so how do HEIs create and engage with students and communities in a meaningful way?
  5. New and altered occupations – when a crisis occurs, jobs are lost but new jobs emerge (for example contact tracers), so how can HEIs train and develop courses for these new occupations

You can access Burning Glass Technologies data measuring the economic impact of COVID-19 and its effect on the job market here.

Dr. May presented on how the Dallas Community College District (DCCD) has been a key resource in aiding the economic recovery from COVID-19 and addressing crucial short-term and long-term workforce needs in Texas.

May highlighted the work that DCCD already does with its community to ensure economic prosperity, including its work with small businesses through their Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and its partnerships with big companies such as Goldman Sachs in helping local businesses get lines of credit.

In response to COVID-19, DCCD had to go through a rapid virtual transition where over 15 000 courses were moved online in a matter of days. There is still a need to find solutions for courses that depend on laboratories and face to face instruction in a pandemic context.

May went on to explain DCCD’s short-term response to COVID-19:

  • In partnership with the Texas Restaurant Association they established the Texas Restaurant Promise Training Program, a 5-course series on back to work strategies in the age of COVID-19. 
  • Established a virtual student resource center that includes a community employment resource page. The page shares information on employment opportunities in the area, and training in job-readiness and soft skills.
  • COVID-19 “ready to open” training videos for various workplaces that are free for EDOs and chambers of commerce
  • It partnered with DFW Hospital Council and UT-Southwestern to manufacture face shields for healthcare professionals
  • It is currently developing contact tracing training courses
  • It has supported small businesses in obtaining over $32 million in loans from the SBA through their SBDC

DCCD is also launching the 300 x 300 initiative, where Texas Community colleges are coming together to prepare 300 000 Texans for careers with labor market value to support the state’s workforce needs and thriving industries. The goal is to achieve this in 300 days.

May rounded up his segment stressing the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, chambers of commerce, local government officials, non-profits, big business, small business. DCCD can be seen as an excellent best practice blueprint for Higher Education Institutions and EDOs in collaboration efforts on community economic development.

Martin presented on the response from public and land-grant universities, highlighting the need to be cognizant of the link between economics and higher education and the fundamental role they play in shaping our economic future. HEIs have long term engagement in the innovation ecosystems of communities in three ways:

  1. Talent development – HEIs are constantly looking at how to address local community workforce needs through training and credentials
  2. Innovation – developing research with local companies to ensure that technology being developed in an academic setting provides economic benefits
  3. Place – HEIs have an influence in shaping place-based policies on economic development in communities

Martin calls this the Innovation and Economic Prosperity Framework (IEP) which can be leveraged to aid in the economic recovery from COVID-19.

Questions that HEIs should consider in responding to COVID-19:

  • What talent will our economy need from the disruption that has been caused? 
  • Which occupations will be in demand?
  • How can we work with local chambers and businesses to address issues of  supply chain disruption?
  • How can HEIs and partners develop a robust contact tracing framework?
  • How can HEIs ensure policy makers, residents, and community organizations are getting the information they need for reopening and reengaging?

Universities can provide a neutral space for collaboration across public and private institutions, so it is important to recognize and understand HEIs economic interdependence with communities.

Martin highlighted that higher education institutions also provide direct economic benefits by providing employment and output to many communities. For example, in 44 states, a research university is among the top 5 employers, and in 24 states, a research university is the top employer. 

Martin concluded her session by discussing the funding issues universities are experiencing and how it will affect the long-term economic prosperity of communities. Martin revealed that they have request $47 million dollars from congress for universities and students to stabilize these institutions.

Barbara Mistick concluded the webinar looking at how independent/private education institutions nationwide have been affected by COVID-19:

  • The transition to online learning was almost immediate, and future digital technologies will transform the education experience but not completely replace face to face interaction
  • In a survey her organization conducted, only 20% of students had taken online course at beginning of the year. There is a perception that online courses are not as effective as the in-person experience, which highlights the need for social interaction and physical interaction in the higher education space.

What does this mean for higher education institutions? Mistick stressed the need for collaboration with EDOs and local community institutions as the key factor in prosperous communities.