Weber County residents and businesses are fortunate to have two amazing higher education facilities; Weber State University and Ogden Weber Applied Technology College. President Chuck Wight of WSU and President Collette Mercier of OWATC addressed our Chamber Board of Governors in the August meeting. Their presentations were amazing, not only from the content of what is happening in higher education but also the coordination and collaboration between the College and University and how they work with public schools to improve student educational outcomes.
Both institutions have grown significantly in student enrollment, graduation and certification. These are real numbers, and the number of students that are placed as a percent of graduation continues to climb. The shift continues in certifications and degrees that are in demand now and in the future. We are fortunate that most of the students completing their higher education stay in our community. The opening sentence states benefits to the residents and businesses; the residents benefit is obvious but the business benefit is of almost greater importance. Higher education and workforce readiness is the number one factor in businesses growing and outside businesses moving to Weber County. Businesses need as many well educated, skilled and technically prepared workers as we can get. With unemployment under 4% the demand for degreed and certified technical workers is extremely high. Some businesses are turning away new business opportunities because they just do not have the capacity. Some are forced to out sourse projects to complete contracts. They want to grow their workforce but cannot find enough qualified technically trained and educated workers.
The presidents not only shared their optimism for meeting our state objective of 66% of our workforce with higher education certification or degrees by the year 2020, but also shared the challenges. The optimism comes in part by the continual and increasing coordination of students starting at the Tech College either in high school or as graduates then being able to utilize their work at the Tech College to receive associate or bachelor degrees from Weber State. They shared examples of individual students that were far from the road to higher education, and with the individual support and successes of a certification they qualified for good jobs that help pay their tuition and completed degrees at Weber State.
One of the greatest challenges to higher education success is how well prepared students are in math, science and communication. If we want our residents to earn higher income, own their own businesses and have a better quality of life, education is the secret. Our public and private schools are ratcheting up the rigor in high school to help student be ready. Students that have to take remedial courses in higher education are 40% less likely to complete a degree. STEM courses are usually tougher in high school but they ensure that college students are working on college courses when they get to higher education and will succeed in education and life.
If you want to make a difference, you or your company can contribute to help schools, provide scholarships for higher education or volunteer as a tutor or mentor. For ways you can help make a difference call or email the Chamber at 801-621-8300 or Chamber@ogdenweberchamber.com.
What About Higher Education?
↧
↧
