Experts to discuss new resource, measures of employment outcomes for the 10 million community college students at DC policy forum

WASHINGTON— Community colleges, the nation's largest provider of postsecondary education, enroll more than 10 million students per year, and offer an accessible and affordable option to prepare for employment or upgrade job skills, according to education experts. 

With community colleges playing a pivotal role in strengthening the workforce, how is the progress and success of these students measured? To address this question, leading education experts will discuss strengthening the U.S. workforce through community college students' progress and success at a policy forum at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Oct. 21.

The policy forum will be held from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the National Press Club Holeman Lounge.

At the forum, RTI International will also launch The Completion Arch, the most extensive, data-rich, web-based resource of its kind focusing on all aspects of the community college student experience and success, including workforce preparation and employment outcomes. 

"The indicators provided in The Completion Arch are important: National, state, and local policymakers need reliable employment measures to guide workforce development," said Laura Horn, director of the Center for Postsecondary Education Research at RTI. "Colleges need data to tailor programs to improve. Students and their families can use these data to make decisions about which programs of study would best meet students' career goals."

Christopher Lu, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor will be the opening speaker at this policy forum.

The panel includes:

• Julie Davis Bell, Ph.D., education program director, National Conference of State Legislatures
• Christine Johnson, Ph.D., chancellor, Community Colleges of Spokane
• Steven Klein, Ph.D., center director, Career & Adult Education and Workforce Development, RTI International

The program will be moderated by Steve Handel, Ph.D., associate vice president, undergraduate admissions, Office of the President, University of California. Tim Gabel, executive vice president of Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences at RTI, will open the forum. The Completion Arch will be introduced by Horn.