Building Relationships
Wallace State strengthening bonds with local industries
By Tyler Hanes
Photo courtesy Wallace State
28
Salute 2020
Wallace State Community College already has a bevy of partnerships with local industries and industrial certifications , and the college is looking to the future as it plans to train the community ’ s future workforce .
At a forum made up of representatives from local businesses and industries in September , Wallace State President Vicki Karolewics said the college is in the process of developing a 10-year strategic plan that will set its course for the future .
The strategic plan , called ASPIRE 2030 , will also lay the foundation for Wallace State to compete for funding from a $ 120 million bond issue that the state legislature is setting aside for the Alabama Community College System .
“ We have an opportunity to dream about doing some things that we might not have been able to do or might not ever be able to do without adequate resources ,” she said .
College Dean Johnny McMoy said the ASPIRE 2030 forum was meant to provide guidance to Wallace State in its goal to provide the best educational and training opportunities for Cullman County residents .
“ What we at Wallace State want to be , as this thing evolves , is to be at the heart of all that we ’ re about as a community ,” he said .
Topics of discussion for the two groups in the forum included growing and declining occupational demands , what new skills will be required in the future workforce and what skills may be replaced by automation or artificial intelligence in coming years . The college also asked committee members what equipment purchases could help prepare students for their industries and what types of training would be the most beneficial for their current workforces .
At the end of the breakout sessions , the groups had gathered dozens of ideas and thoughts about the future needs for educating and training workers , and they were asked to narrow those thoughts into a few primary takeaways that the college should be