Manufacturing is a broad industry that encompasses several phases of production from making of goods or wares by manual labor or by large scale machinery, to the processes involved in the physical or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The manufacturing sector continues to account for 14% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and 11% of total U.S. employment. According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, manufacturing firms fund 60% of the $193 billion that the U. S. private sector invests annually in research and development. Manufacturing salaries and benefits average $65,000, higher than the average for the total private sector. Two factors in particular attract workers to manufacturing; higher pay and benefits, and opportunities for advanced education and training.
The manufacturing industry in the United States is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Popular perceptions of manufacturing jobs as dark, dangerous and dirty are largely outdated as advanced robotics and other “intelligent” systems become pervasive throughout the manufacturing process. To remain globally competitive, U.S. manufacturers are implementing process improvement techniques, incorporating quality management systems, and overhauling their production operations with advanced technology. In this way, the U.S. manufacturing industry has achieved remarkable productivity growth in recent years. The transformation of manufacturing has profound implications for the incumbent manufacturing workforce and for the new workers that employers demand. In order to operate a modern production facility, manufacturers require workers with advanced skills. Comprehensive partnerships among education, employment, and economic development government agencies are needed to effectively address these challenges. In its report, ETA suggests the creation of partnerships between education and industry to model such collaborations.
Overcoming Workforce Development Challenges through the Independent and Private School Sector Types of Private Postsecondary Institutions
The numerous independent or private postsecondary institutions operating in California vary in the type of educational programs they offer, the degrees and/or certificates they grant, and their accreditation status. In addition to the three public systems of higher education, California is also home to 119 independent colleges and universities that are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The 4-year and 2-year independent colleges and universities accredited by WASC were not manufacturing. Manufacturing is a broad industry that encompasses several phases of production from making of goods or wares by manual labor or by large scale machinery, to the processes involved in the physical or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The manufacturing sector continues to account for 14% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and 11% of total U.S. employment.
According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, manufacturing firm s fund 60% of the $193 billion that the U. S. private sector invests annually in research and development. Manufacturing salaries and benefits average $65,000, higher than the average for the total private sector. Two factors in particular attract workers to manufacturing; higher pay and benefits, and opportunities for advanced education and training. The manufacturing industry in the United States is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Popular perceptions of manufacturing jobs as dark, dangerous and dirty are largely outdated as advanced robotics and other “intelligent” systems become pervasive throughout the manufacturing process. To remain globally competitive, U.S. manufacturers are implementing process improvement techniques, incorporating quality management systems, and overhauling their production operations with advanced technology. In this way, the U.S. manufacturing industry has achieved remarkable productivity growth in recent years. The transformation of manufacturing has profound implications for the incumbent manufacturing workforce and for the new workers that employers demand. In order to operate a modern production facility, manufacturers require workers with advanced skills. Comprehensive partnerships among education, employment, and economic development government agencies are needed to effectively address these challenges. In its report, ETA suggests the creation of partnerships between education and industry to model such collaborations. Overcoming Workforce Development Challenges through the Independent and Private School Sector Types of Private Postsecondary Institutions the numerous independent or private postsecondary institutions operating in California vary in the type of educational programs they offer, the degrees and/or certificates they grant, and their accreditation status. In addition to the three public systems of higher education, California is also home to 119 independent colleges and universities that reaccredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The 4-yearand 2-year independent colleges and universities accredited by WASC were not Manufacturing. Manufacturing is a broad industry that encompasses several phases of production from making of goods or wares by manual labor or by large scale machinery, to the processes involved in the physical or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The manufacturing sector continues to account for14% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and 11% of total U.S. employment.
According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, manufacturing firm s fund 60% of the$193 billion that the U. S. private sector invests annually in research and development. Manufacturing salaries and benefits average $65,000, higher than the average for the total private sector. Two factors in particular attract workers to manufacturing; higher pay and benefits, and opportunities for advanced education and training. The manufacturing industry in the United States is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Popular perceptions of manufacturing jobs as dark, dangerous and dirty are largely outdated as advanced robotics and other “intelligent” systems become pervasive throughout the manufacturing process. To remain globally competitive, U.S. manufacturers are implementing process improvement techniques, incorporating quality management systems, and overhauling their production operations with advanced technology. In this way, the U.S. manufacturing industry has achieved remarkable productivity growth in recent years. The transformation of manufacturing has profound implications for the incumbent manufacturing workforce and for the new workers that employers demand. In order to operate a modern production facility, manufacturers require workers with advanced skills. Comprehensive partnerships among education, employment, and economic development government agencies are needed to effectively address these challenges. In its report, ETA suggests the creation of partnerships between education and industry to model such collaborations33Overcoming Workforce Development Challenges through the Independent and Private School Sector Types of Private Postsecondary Institutions. The numerous independent or private postsecondary institutions operating in California vary in the type of educational programs they offer, the degrees and/or certificates they grant, and their accreditation status. In addition to the three public systems of higher education, California is also home to 119 independent colleges and universities that reaccredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The 4-yearand 2-year independent colleges and universities accredited by WASC were not regulated by the BPPVE. Many of the programs offered by independent post secondary institutions include programs that are designed to prepare students for the workforce as soon as they complete their training. Some private 2 and 4-year universities are non WASC accredited and may have accreditation from one of the various recognized national accrediting agencies.
Vocational training schools are privately owned and operated schools that offer a wide variety of training options in areas such as cosmetology, automotive repair, court reporting, paralegal services, technical training, travel services, secretarial, medical assistance, etc. Typical vocational courses are short, lasting from 5 to 12 months. However, some training programs (such as court reporting) can take up to 2 to 3 years to complete. The main appeal of these schools is their concentrated curriculum, job training focus, and short course length. Their accreditation status varies and until legislation creating a successor to BPPVE is adopted, some may currently have no regulation at all.
Can Private Postsecondary Schools Play a Role in Addressing California’s Workforce Development Needs?
In recent years, the number of private postsecondary schools has significantly increased due in large part to employers’ needs for specific skills and educational requirements and students’ inability to access those educational programs in public institutions. In essence, the expansion of private postsecondary schools is a market response to demand for skilled workers. However, there has been very little, if any, independent evaluation of the institutions' ability to effectively deliver job training and workforce development services as most of the state's focus has been on improvements to the public school sector. In light of budgetary and capacity issues in California's public postsecondary schools, students are turning to private institutions as an alternative to help prepare them for entry into the workforce, but what is not clear, is whether those institutions can and should also play an important part in meeting students' needs for career preparation and employers' needs for a skilled workforce. It is our intent with this hearing to examine the role of private postsecondary schools in workforce development and to direct the Legislature's focus to this yet unexplored policy issue.
Regulation of Private Postsecondary Institutions: The Need for a Rational Approach
The Private Postsecondary and Vocational Reform Act of 1989 (Reform Act) created the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE) as the regulator of private educational institutions. This unit of the California Department of Consumer Affairs was charged with protecting students by establishing academic standards for the private institutions of higher education in California. BPPVE approval of schools or programs covered by the Reform Act was required by the state of California to ensure consumer safety from fraudulent or substandard education providers. The Bureau accepted and acted on student complaints and oversaw student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to reimburse tuition money if a school closed unexpectedly. The agency was not a recognized accreditor, nor did its approval serve as a substitute for educational accreditation. BPPVE maintained a directory of schools with information regarding operation and academics. The Bureau regulated approximately 1,800 schools serving an estimated 400,000 students, and provided statutory exemptions from the regulations for schools that teach religion.
The agency acquired a reputation for being ineffectual and due to a Sunset provision in the law, the Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education Reform Act expired on July 1, 2007, and the BPPVE was required to cease operations on that date. Since late2006, the Department and Consumer Services Agency has been working with the State Legislature and various interested parties on a complete overhaul of the Reform Act and that effort continues to this day. In 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger signed urgency legislation enacting temporary measures to establish minimal oversight of private post secondary institutions between July 1, 2007 and February 1, 2008. The bill provided that matters pending before the former BPPVE on June 30, 2007 are considered pending before a successor body. It allowed for the payment of already had approved STRF claims by the Director of the Department, and permitted the Director to enter into voluntary agreements with institutions to comply with the inoperative Reform Act. However, those provisions Sunset on July 1, 2008 and all private post secondary schools operating in California are essentially unregulated and no student tuition claims are currently being reimbursed.
