Editor’s note: In early August, Virginia’s Community Colleges made the case for business partnerships directly to readers of the state’s major newspapers. The Advertorial appeared in the Bristol Herald Courier, Roanoke Times, Charlottesville Daily Progress, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Washington Business Journal.
By Dr. Kenneth Alexander, VCCS vice chancellor for Strategic Partnerships
Dr. Kenneth Alexander
As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, talent remains businesses’ most valuable resource — and Virginia’s Community Colleges are ready to deliver it. With 23 colleges serving more than 232,000 students statewide, our system is not just educating workers, we’re solving workforce challenges, strengthening regional economies and fueling innovation in every corner of the Commonwealth.
Across industries — from cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing to healthcare and skilled trades — employers are facing persistent workforce gaps. Virginia’s Community Colleges offer a practical, proven solution: customized training and work-based learning opportunities, directly informed by our partnerships with industry leaders throughout Virginia.
If your business is looking to grow and adapt in a changing economy, the opportunity to partner with your local community college has never been greater or more valuable.
A system built for impact:
Nursing Students in Virginia Community Colleges receive hands-on instruction.
Virginia’s Community Colleges have been powerful engines of opportunity since 1966, transforming lives and uplifting entire communities. With a mission grounded in accessibility, affordability and excellence, we deliver high-quality education and workforce training that meets people where they are and prepares them for where they want to go.
In the 2023-2024 academic year, our 23 community colleges served more than 232,000 students. These are not just numbers — they represent aspiring nurses, welders, coders, entrepreneurs and educators preparing to succeed in a rapidly changing economy. But the success of our community colleges is not theirs alone. When our community colleges succeed, Virginia succeeds.
Virginia Western Community College offers advanced manufacturing training.
To remain competitive and maintain a broad-based education and workforce strategy, our state must ensure that higher education is not only available but also aligned with the realities of today’s workforce — an approach reflected in our system-wide strategic plan, “Accelerate Opportunity.” Under the leadership of Chancellor Dr. David Doré, Virginia’s community colleges are sharpening their focus on economic mobility, credential attainment and building scalable pathways from education to employment. These efforts build on decades of community college innovation and signal a long-term vision for a more responsive and opportunity-rich system.
From classrooms to careers:
This is where strategic partnerships come in. These collaborations are the critical link between the classroom and the job site, between learning and earning, between potential and prosperity — principles that are deeply embedded in the long-term vision for our system.
Across Virginia, our community colleges are building partnerships with business leaders, chambers of commerce, school divisions, government agencies, Virginia’s universities and nonprofit organizations. These relationships help us align curricula with emerging industry demands, expand work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities, increase access to high-demand credentials, leverage public and private investment to keep tuition affordable, and accelerate transitions from education to employment.
This approach is working. Four in five graduates of VCCS workforce training programs are employed or continuing their education within six months. With over 200 degree and certificate programs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, technology and advanced manufacturing, 82% of our graduates are entering careers that fuel Virginia’s economic growth.
To meet the growing Cybersecurity and Information Technology sector, Laurel Ridge and other community colleges are offering relevant training and certification programs.
The economic return is equally strong. Every dollar invested in Virginia’s Community Colleges generates $4.50 in return for the state. These institutions contribute more than $11.6 billion annually to Virginia’s economy, and 81% of graduates stay in the Commonwealth — helping to meet workforce demands and build stronger communities.
Opportunity that reflects Virginia:
Our students reflect the rich diversity and evolving needs of the Commonwealth. They include recent high school graduates looking to launch their college journey close to home, as well as working-age adults seeking to reskill, upskill or change careers. Fifty-six percent of our students are women, nearly half identify as racial or ethnic minorities, and the average age is 24 — representing a student body that is both young and seasoned, determined to build better futures for themselves and their communities.
We are committed to reducing barriers and expanding opportunity — whether that means helping a single parent earn a credential in four months through FastForward or supporting a high school graduate on a seamless pathway to a bachelor’s degree.
And the payoff is clear: Graduates with an associate degree see their annual earnings increase by an average of $12,200, while FastForward completers see average wage gains of $11,746. And for many, community college is just the beginning — 60% of our students transfer to a four-year institution within two years.
Why partnerships matter:
As a proud graduate of Virginia’s Community College system, I have lived this story.
I enrolled directly out of high school and earned an associate of applied science degree from what is now Brightpoint Community College. That experience laid the foundation for a journey that led to degrees from Old Dominion University, Norwich University and Antioch University — and to a career spanning education, public service and business.
Northern Virginia Community College and others are offering training for the fast-growing Data Center industry.
Over the years, I’ve had the honor of helping build workforce development partnerships across sectors — from aviation and shipbuilding to healthcare and technology. In every case, the lesson is the same: access to education changes lives, and strategic partnerships expand that access and multiply its impact.
Virginia’s businesses don’t just benefit from hiring skilled community college graduates — they thrive when they help shape the training those graduates receive. Whether you’re a major employer looking to build a talent pipeline or a regional manufacturer seeking to modernize operations, there is a role for you in our system.
A call to collaborate:
Now is the time to invest in our shared success — and to act with purpose. By working collaboratively to drive innovation, expand access to opportunity and fuel sustainable economic growth, we can lay the groundwork for long-term prosperity. Advancing community development and strengthening workforce readiness will position Virginia to meet future challenges with resilience and economic competitiveness.
When we invest in our community colleges, we unlock the full promise of Virginia’s future. Virginia’s Community Colleges are not just preparing students — they are powering dreams, strengthening communities and shaping tomorrow’s leaders. Let us come together to build bold, strategic partnerships that lift every Virginian and create a more vibrant, prosperous Commonwealth for generations to come.
For more information, please visit vccs.edu.
