Williams appointed as deputy director and general counsel

Jordan L. Williams, an experienced attorney who has held roles in local, state, and federal government, has been named deputy director and general counsel, President and CEO Brian Millner announced today. Williams was selected for the role following a statewide search.

“MCCA is lucky to have someone with Jordan’s experience and expertise,” said Millner. “As a small association it’s vital to have a team of utility players who can successfully fulfill different roles as the needs of the association shift. Having a detail-oriented project manager who can also assist MCCA in staying on top of legal and legislative matters as they arise, Jordan will be a huge asset to our team.”

Jefferson City, MO — The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that Missouri will receive substantial grant funding for the Missouri Apprenticeships in Manufacturing Program (MoAMP), a statewide initiative to improve the ability to deliver innovative pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training programs. Participants will learn skills and earn credentials, or degrees, that will lead to high-demand entry- and middle-skills occupations in the advanced manufacturing industry.

The nine-member consortium of Missouri’s community colleges and State Technical College of Missouri, and private-sector partner, National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), will target three career pathways of occupations within advanced manufacturing: automation and systems, logistics, and production and maintenance.

Spring is in the air and you know what that means — spring cleaning! Time to roll up your sleeves and tackle those projects that you put off, including cleaning and updating your MCCA member profile.

Today is the day we celebrate Mother Earth. While Earth Day only falls once a year, we can each make a difference in our local communities today to make a global difference throughout the year.

Today (and tomorrow) marks American Associations Day!

At this joyous time of year, we are grateful for our partnership with each of you.

Just a heads up that our office will be closed Friday, December 21, 2018-Tuesday, January 1, 2019.

Not surprisingly, workforce development was a central focus of this year’s Governor’s Conference on Economic Development.

At the event, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens unveiled “Skilled Workforce Missouri,” the Department of Economic Development’s new plan to overall the state’s workforce system.

Last week, Senate appropriations approved a bill that would increase the maximum award for Pell grants by 1.7 percent.

MCCA and other community colleges had lobbied for either an increase in the Pell Grant maximum or funding for short-term training via Pell Grants. Sen. Roy Blunt led the effort to pass the increase.

In a meeting with the National Skills Coalition, Missouri’s community colleges looked at several statewide policies that would enable colleges to train workers to fill the state’s growing skills gap.

In Missouri, there are not enough workers trained to the middle-skill level to fill the jobs available. Middle-skill jobs accounted for roughly 53 percent of jobs in Missouri in 2015, but only 46 percent of the state’s workers are trained to this level. These middle-skill jobs require a credential beyond high school, but not a four year degree, leaving many workers either under or over-trained.

President Donald Trump reiterated his support for apprenticeships at a discussion last week focused on expanding opportunities for women and minorities in STEM fields.

The discussion was one event in a series dating as far back as March in which the President pointed to “earn as you learn” programs as a possible solution for growing skills gaps in the nation’s fastest growing sectors.

Jefferson City, Missouri – Brian Millner was named President/CEO of the Missouri Community College Association, effective September 1.

Millner will lead the association in its efforts to advocate and provide professional development for Missouri’s 12 community colleges and nearly 2,000 members.

We're building a new set of member benefits to make MCCA membership even more relevant and valuable for you.

Monthly Webinars

We get it. It’s hard to pull away from work for a three-day conference. That’s why, this February, we’re introducing a new monthly webinar series. This way you have access to professional development that is affordable, convenient, and relevant to you.

Together, we did some powerful things in 2017. Check them out in our annual report:

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At the signing of the FY 2018 budget last month, Governor Eric Greitens announced that low tax receipts and rising health care costs meant the state would have to withhold $250 million from the newly approved budget.

The withholds, which amount to $24 million for higher education, are in addition to the 6.5 percent cuts approved by the legislature in May. All told, the reduction to higher education amounts to 9 percent, which is what the Governor first proposed in January.

At the Trustee and Executive Leadership Conference, leaders from all twelve of Missouri’s community colleges took part in the first stage of the drafting process for the 2018 Legislative Agenda. The discussion was an opportunity primarily for community college trustees to provide input, but it was also a chance for the association’s advocacy team to share what to expect come January.

• The state budget is shaping up for another tough funding battle, which could bring about changes reminiscent to those proposed earlier this year.

• Rumblings from Rex Sinquefield’s Show-Me Institute indicate that public retirement systems may come under attack in 2018. The Institute has long-supported the privatization of public retirement funds, but is expected to increase its efforts next year.

• The association is also keeping an eye on A+ program funding. With the expansion of the A+ program to private high schools and the increases in tuition resulting from this year’s budget cuts, it will be critical for the legislature to keep its promise to fully-fund the program.

• Workforce development is also expected to be a major focus of this year’s advocacy efforts, as the legislature looks for ways to boost Missouri’s economy.

MCCA will officially release its legislative agenda once it is approved by the Presidents and Chancellor’s Council in November.