From Conference Chairs and  ATEA board members-March 2020

Leadership and Partnership: Building Technical Education Pathways to Meet the Needs of a Rapidly Changing Economy

A strong system of technical education, that starts in high school and extends through two-year colleges with possible paths to further education and training, is critical to the future of our country in a rapidly changing global economy. As community and technical colleges, we are a fulcrum of this system. We are the point on which this system moves. We are uniquely positioned to lead. We cannot do this work alone.

In New Jersey, community colleges are leading a bold effort to ensure that our residents are prepared with the skills to thrive and compete in the changing economy and are leading the development of partnerships with high schools, four-year colleges and universities and employers. We welcome ATEA to New Jersey, to learn more about our efforts and to discuss innovative efforts of community and technical colleges across the country to lead technical education pathways, to build broad partnerships and to build a skilled innovative workforce to drive economic growth.

The 2020 ATEA conference, entitled Leadership and Partnership: Building Technical Education Pathways to Meet the Needs of a Rapidly Changing Economy, will focus on innovative partnerships with high schools and colleges, new ideas for engaging employers in this important work, and the impact of the changing skills needs of employers on technical education.  When the conference ends, we hope that you will leave Camden County, New Jersey with new ideas, new connections and new energy to support all of your efforts to lead technical education across the country.

Dr. Aaron Fichtner, President New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Dr. Jon Connolly, President, Sussex County College, Newton, New Jersey