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  • Regents Highlights

New Workforce Policy, Apprenticeship Programs, and AI Highlight Regents’ June Meetings

June 12, 2024 • Featured

SUBR senior Kennedy M. Orr sworn in as new student board member

 

BATON ROUGE, La. — Members of the Louisiana Board of Regents and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) met jointly on Wednesday, receiving updates on statewide efforts to improve teacher recruitment and retention. By law, Regents and BESE are required to meet jointly twice a year to discuss education policy, share information, and vote on issues of mutual interest.

The focus of the June meeting was Louisiana’s education-to-workforce pipeline as the Department of Education (LDOE) provided an update on the Resident Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program approved by the Louisiana Workforce Commission in May. The Registered Apprenticeship, an effort supported by the Teacher Recruitment, Recovery, and Retention Task Force, is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway in which school systems can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, and engage in rigorous and relevant classroom training.

Additional apprenticeship programs were highlighted during the Board of Regents meeting by three community college leaders: Dr. Jayda Spillers (Chancellor, Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College), Dr. Rick Bateman (Chancellor, Bossier Parish Community College), and Ashley Ellis (Pre Education Program Director, Louisiana Delta Community College). The campus leaders shared information about these innovative approaches and ways in which new apprenticeship agreements in teaching, nursing, and plumbing will allow students to earn while they learn, building capacity in critical areas of workforce need in their communities.

To align Regents’ policies to this work, the Board approved revisions to recognize a broader variety of market-relevant credentials beyond traditional diplomas and degrees. The revisions will knit these validated skills and learning credentials into the Board’s overall policy structure, which defines credentials of value, governs credit for prior learning, and establishes mechanisms that gather and analyze data. The inclusion of these credentials is an important step to solidifying their value in addressing the state’s workforce needs and economic goals.

“In order for Louisiana to prosper, we must continue to develop our education-to-employment pipeline and prepare students for the state’s workforce needs,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed. “Today’s policy expansion to include market-relevant credentials along with the four apprenticeship programs discussed for teachers, nurses and plumbers highlight the systemic work underway across our state to improve workforce alignment on regional and state levels. Campuses will certainly continue to accelerate this important work.”

The Board of Regents also welcomed its new student member today. Kennedy M. Orr is a Southern University and A&M College senior majoring in agricultural business. The Chicago native is the Student Government Association President at SUBR.

Regents also updated its bylaws to establish an Artificial Intelligence Committee, an ongoing special committee charged with providing regular updates in this field that affect higher education.

Chaired by Regent T. Jay Seale III, the Artificial Intelligence Committee’s initial membership will include Regents David J. Aubrey, Misti S. Cordell, Blake R. David, Phillip R. May, Jr., Terrie P. Sterling, and Kennedy M. Orr.

“With the recent developments in generative artificial intelligence (AI), we are now faced with a wide array of new possibilities and challenges,” said Board Chair Gary N. Solomon, Jr. “AI will have a pervasive influence on education, employment, and every aspect of our modern lives. Creating a special committee to understand developments in this field and engage with leaders is crucial to Louisiana higher education staying at the forefront of this technological shift as we develop talent.”

In other Board action, Regents approved FY25 funding recommendations, which include funding for both TOPS ($297.1M) and the M.J. Foster Scholars Program ($10.5M) as well as GO Grants, which provide need-based aid funding ($70.5M).

The next Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 28, at 9:30 a.m.

#LaProspers

Contact
Dr. Chris Yandle, Associate Commissioner for Public Affairs
chris.yandle@laregents.edu • 985-373-5845


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