State Center Community College District (SCCCD) has been named the new host of the Central Valley/Mother Lode Center of Excellence (CVML COE).

CVML COE will continue to work collaboratively with community colleges as a technical assistance provider as well as expanding services to include workforce data training opportunities throughout the region.

SCCCD will receive grant funding through the CCCCO Workforce and Economic Development Division to undertake a number of projects in the coming year. These include:

• Completing an equity gap analysis that will entail analyzing student completion and employment outcomes.
• Conducting a labor market analysis that identifies up to 50 occupations that represent good job opportunities for the region.
• Producing a study of work-based learning and apprenticeship programs in the region, with a focus on occupations leading to high-wage, high-skill jobs.
• Offer training workshops to build college and K12 expertise on labor market data, workforce needs analysis, and application of data to decision-making processes.

The effort will initially be led by Dr. Robert Frost, SCCCD’s interim vice chancellor of educational services and institutional effectiveness. Dr. Frost and his office are currently recruiting for the CVML COE director position.

As SCCCD undertakes hiring a regional director, State COE Director Laura Coleman and Research Associate Juan Madrigal will provide support as needed to the community colleges within the Central Valley Mother Lode Regional Consortium.