First installment features TCC Chancellor and Board of Trustees President
In a new podcast series, “The Workforce Lens,” Tarrant County College explores all things related to preparing and growing the workforce, today and in the future. The first installment, moderated by Shannon Bryant, Executive Vice President for Corporate Solutions & Economic Development, features Dr. Eugene Giovannini, Chancellor of Tarrant County College District, and Conrad Heede, President of Tarrant County College Board of Trustees, discussing the strategic role community colleges play in workforce and economic development.
Listen to the podcast and access the full transcript HERE.
Mr. Heede opened the conversation, discussing the depth of TCC offerings and the influence the organization has historically had on the Tarrant County community. Chancellor Giovannini reinforced this, noting that, while all community colleges serve a similar mission, what sets Tarrant County College apart is “specifically related to growth that is happening in the area and support for the community college,” coming in the way of funding and governance.
“The [North Texas] area is transforming unlike any other in the country,” Dr. Giovanni explained, adding that TCC is the now the 13th largest standalone college or university in the nation. “The track record, the history of this college, is very, very strong.”
Filling job demand
Much of the podcast conversation focused on how community colleges help fill unmet job demand. Dr. Giovannini noted that six to seven million jobs in America go unfilled, primarily due to an unskilled workforce. Further, 44 of the top 50 highest demand jobs in the country require something more than a high school degree but less than a baccalaureate.
“That’s where the community college fits to meet demand,” he said, whether providing short-term training to gain a certificate or a degree program. “With technology changing at the pace it is, that is a constant need.”
Added Mr. Heede, “Our main job is to get the unemployed/underemployed people trained for more skilled positions so they can fill the jobs that are presently open and available here in the metroplex.”
Coping with COVID-19
Dr. Giovannini also acknowledged the role that TCC’s Tarrant County Small Business Development Center is playing to help small businesses recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, including dispersing federal relief funds. “We are very engaged and involved with local businesses, all the way down to one- and two-person shops/entrepreneurs, and we’ve added advisors to ensure we meet their needs.”
He added that, coming out of COVID, there is anticipated to be more demand for training that is of a shorter nature – six-to-nine months, certificates, etc. “It is not so much a credit-hour degree that the workforce is demanding; it is really about skill set. Our response, serving the community, is to prepare and deliver programs that meet that need.”
To learn more about how TCC Corporate Solutions & Economic Development can help with workforce learning and development needs, call (817) 515-2500 or email corporate.solutions@tccd.edu.