VCCS Chancellor David Doré has issued the following statement in response to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s May 30 announcement regarding state hiring practices:
Dr. David Dore
I’d like to congratulate and thank Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin for his forward-thinking decision to change how state agencies will recruit and compete for talent by eliminating degree requirements, preferences or both for almost ninety percent of state classified positions, effective July 1.
Make no mistake, at Virginia’s Community Colleges we promote and value college degrees, and we know that degrees are required for many faculty and professional positions. We’ve also long believed that a job applicant’s relevant skills and competencies are strong predictors of workplace success.
We wholeheartedly join the governor in recognizing that employers – both private and public – are increasingly interested in knowledge and skills, particularly when they are validated through industry certifications.
Our colleges are leading the nation in the delivery of such certifications because we believe that they are pathways to better jobs, better lives, and more robust economies. And growing numbers of Virginians agree. Thousands have flocked to short-term Virginia Community College workforce and career training programs like FastForward, which helps them earn an average of nearly 25% more money after just weeks of training.
Read the governor’s announcement on new state agency hiring practices.
Learn more about FastForward short-term workforce and career training programs.
