Informational Hearings on the New Economy: The Role of the Community College.

This report presents background information on the role of California community colleges in meeting the workforce development needs of the competitive global economy. It asserts that California is now experiencing a "new economy," which calls for employees to be more adaptable and flexible in their expectations and attitudes. The work of the future will require a higher level and a broader range of skills. Employees will no longer be able to obtain skills that will only lead to a specific job; they must obtain a broad array of skills upon which a foundation for other or future job skills can be built. This expansion of skills and abilities is called "Career Ladders." Transcripts from two California Assembly hearings on community college workforce development are provided in this report. The first hearing, "The New Economy: The Role of the Community College," presents a thorough analysis of the Career Ladders concept, including testimony on its viability and significance in providing the workforce preparation necessary to respond to the new economy. The second hearing, "Information Technology: Preparing Students for IT Careers," outlines California's "Skills Standard for Information Technology" model for the public sector. (RC)