‘Workforce Ready Grant’ Targets Adult Education
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education says a bill making its way through the Indiana legislature would help adults without a degree or quality work force certificate pay for school. Teresa Lubbers says the legislation targets "high-value" degrees, including medical office administration and supply chain management. She says the Workforce Ready Grant proposal has strong support in the Indiana House and Senate.
Lubbers spoke with Inside INdiana Business about the bill at the H. Kent Weldon Conference for Higher Education in Indianapolis. The event aims to bring students, educators and business and community leaders together to discuss challenges and opportunities in higher education and work force development throughout the state.
"There is a grant going through the legislature right now called the Work Force Ready Grant, which would provide opportunities for (adult) students to get a short-term certificate at no cost, aligned with a high-demand area in the economy," said Teresa Lubbers.
The grant is part of the "Five Pillars’ outlined by Governor Eric Holcomb’s 2017 legislative agenda that keys on issues he says "affect Hoosiers most."
Lubbers says the Governor "is very involved with all aspects of what we’re doing in higher education." Adding that Governor Holcomb, "is committed to his goal of aligning Indiana’s workforce, and getting people to come back to school, even if they left and didn’t get a degree, or a credential of some sort."
"This allows them (Hoosier adults) to have a good job," said Lubbers. "And what we are saying to them is ‘if you come back and get a certificate, the state will ensure that the cost of that certificate is covered."
Lubbers also added the Workforce Ready Grant (House Bill 1008) is enthusiastically supported by the House and Senate, and is confident it will pass this session.