Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development

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The Collegiate Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development is a non-profit organization that is a partnership of Drexel University and five area community colleges: Community College of Philadelphia, Delaware County Community College, Bucks County Community College, Camden County College and Montgomery County Community College.

The Consortium provides a comprehensive, coordinated approach to developing a highly skilled workforce for the region. The combined efforts of the five community colleges, which emphasize advanced technical training, and a university, which offers advanced education, creates a unique model for education and training.

The resources of our member institutions are available to business and industry clients through the Consortium including more than 4,000 faculty supporting over 470 certificate, associate, bachelor masters and doctorial programs, delivered at more than 60 sites throughout the region. The educational institutions also work with local high schools and vocational schools to assist them in adopting college credit courses for students seeking careers in specific fields. The objective is to encourage students to work within the region while continuing to pursue college certifications and degrees.

The Consortium is governed by a Board of Directors of representatives from the six academic institutions as well as Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, Philadelphia's major economic development organization. The Consortium's offices are located at the Philadelphia Naval Base in South Philadelphia and are easily accessible by car or public transit.

History

The Consortium was originally formed in 1994, with the assistance of a small grant from the National Science Foundation for the purpose of delivering education and training to workers displaced by the closing of the Philadelphia Naval Base and Shipyard. At that time, it was known as the Shipyard College. Since 1994, the Consortium has served more than 16,000 individuals and employees of businesses throughout the greater Philadelphia region.

The Consortium became self-sufficient in 1996, and in 1998 expanded its delivery of education and training services to workers outside of the Philadelphia region. To date, the Consortium has worked through 23 affiliated colleges in ten states to deliver Consortium-developed training to corporate client employees. The Consortium was the 1996 recipient of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning national award for Outstanding Institutional Service to Adult Learners and a 1997 semi-finalist for the Ford Foundation and Harvard University Innovations in American Government award.