Why Workforce Partnerships Are Redefining the Role of Community Colleges
Feb 18, 2026For decades, community colleges have described themselves as workforce-focused.
What’s changing now is how intentionally and strategically that work is happening.
In our conversation with Dr. Kate Smith, President of Rio Salado College, we hear a compelling example of what happens when workforce partnerships are treated not as add-ons, but as core institutional strategy.
Moving Beyond Transactional Partnerships
Many institutions partner with employers at the surface level—internships, advisory boards, occasional curriculum feedback.
Rio Salado is operating differently.
Kate describes partnerships where employers help shape programs from the beginning: defining skills, identifying pathways, and removing friction for learners who are already working full-time. These partnerships aren’t about branding—they’re about alignment.
The result? Programs that actually work for adult learners.
Designing Pathways That Fit Real Lives
A key theme in the conversation is flexibility.
Workforce learners don’t move through education in straight lines. They step in, step out, pause for family or work, then return when the next opportunity appears. Rio’s partnerships reflect that reality by offering:
- Short, targeted pathways
- Stackable credentials
- On-ramps and off-ramps aligned with employment cycles
This approach honors learners’ lives rather than asking them to rearrange everything to fit traditional academic calendars.
Preparing Learners for Emerging Industries
Kate also highlights partnerships that prepare learners for jobs that barely existed a decade ago—including advanced construction technologies like 3D concrete printing.
These programs aren’t speculative. They’re built alongside employers who are already investing in these technologies and need a workforce ready to operate them.
This is where community colleges are uniquely positioned: close enough to industry to respond quickly, and flexible enough to experiment.
A Leadership Reflection
For leaders, this raises important questions:
- Are our partnerships truly co-designed—or mostly symbolic?
- Do our pathways reflect how adults actually live and work?
- Are we preparing learners for yesterday’s jobs or tomorrow’s opportunities?
Workforce alignment isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about listening deeply—and building accordingly.
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