Workforce Alignment

At its November meeting, the Board of Regents will receive a report on how academic programs at Iowa’s public universities align with workforce needs in the state. The report includes recommendations on how programs can fit with high-demand jobs, enrollment and data collection and tracking procedures. 

President Sherry Bates charged the universities and the Board Office to conduct a review of academic programs to determine how they fit with high-demand jobs and chart clearer pathways between academic work and workforce participation. Representatives reviewed national best practices, collected significant data and received feedback from external stakeholders, such as Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa Department of Education. 

Recommendations include expanding data-informed strategies through advising and career services to better support students in connecting degree tracks with employment, identifying opportunities for program reorganization to enhance opportunities for workforce preparation, and including an evaluation of the social impact of careers such as health care and social services, which have direct impact on Iowa residents but do not command the high wages of other program paths. 

The Board and Iowa’s Regent universities will continue to work with Iowa Workforce Development and the state’s top employers to help fill Iowa’s workforce needs.