Media Contact: Cherie Yurco;
CMYurco@DallasCollege.edu
For immediate release — Feb. 21, 2024
(DALLAS) — Dallas College, in working with its partners, has developed and implemented a national standard for industry-recognized, competency-based workplace training such as apprenticeships, internships, on-the-job training, placement programs and residencies.
These programs are essential to Dallas College and other community colleges under new results-based funding formulas, such as Texas’ House Bill 8, signed into law last year. For worker-learners, programs developed under the standard will provide additional opportunities for upskilling, reskilling and economic mobility.
Skills-based hiring and career-connected learning are on the rise nationwide. The trend accelerated following the pandemic but began several years prior. Employers loosened degree requirements in hiring for 46% of middle-skill occupations and 31% of high-skill ones between 2017 and 2019, according to analysis from the Burning Glass Institute. Those experts believe the trend will continue with an additional 1.4 million jobs losing college degree requirements in the next five years.
In response, Dallas College has developed and implemented a variety of training programs to help employers train, upskill and reskill workforces. The Advancement and Innovation Division led the development of the standard and its
approval by ASTM International’s accreditation and certification committee — a first for Dallas College. The standard (designated ASTM E3416-23) provides industry with a structured framework for achieving success and accrediting their training programs.
“This new standard is a huge honor for Dallas College and this team, which will allow us to scale our workforce and value credentialing programs nationally,” said Iris Freemon, interim vice chancellor, Dallas College Advancement and Innovation. “The standard is just one of the initiatives we are developing to support sector development and career acquisition, which are essential to results-based funding models.”
The National Partnership and Innovation team developed the standard in collaboration with academia, government and industry partners, including Bufflehead Strategies, Workcred, American Society for Health Care Human Resources Administration, Solutions for Information Design, Mickie Rops Consulting, Professional Testing and EMB Consultants.
Dallas College plans to hold national workshops around ASTM E3416-23, “Standard Practice for Competency-Based Workplace Learning Programs,” for companies and organizations interested in creating programs to the standard. Attendees will gain basic understanding of E3416-23 and create prototypes aligned with the standard.
For workshop information, contact Amy Mackenroth, associate deputy chancellor, Dallas College National Partnerships and Innovation, at
Innovations@DallasCollege.edu. Mackenroth was administrative lead for the new standard.
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