To meet the state's workforce needs, LCTCS will need to enroll 160,000 students by 2012

Louisiana’s 48 community and technical college campuses are the primary portal to higher education and employment for thousands of our state’s residents. Every year, men and women looking for a path to college or a gateway to a new career enroll in LCTCS institutions, where they obtain top-notch skills quickly and affordably.

More than 52,000 students are currently enrolled in community and technical colleges, and many are training to become the next generation of badly-needed nurses, health care professionals, early childhood educators, first responders and construction workers. The state’s workforce challenges are vast. We believe the State of Louisiana should pursue an agenda that makes workforce training and technical education top priorities, both through resources and through smart policies that support the state’s community and technical colleges.

The LCTCS has an aggressive legislative agenda which includes the following:

Designate Responsibility for Workforce Training

Designate responsibility for the delivery of workforce training to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

No other agency in Louisiana provides the variety and quality of workforce training programs and certifications offered by LCTCS institutions. To realize the potential of these institutions, a performance funding model to grow enrollment and develop programs aligned with workforce needs and economic development priorities is imperative.

To ensure the LCTCS can perform this responsibility, the following is needed:

• Fund every new enrollment aligned with workforce needs and economic development priorities. - $20.4 million
• Complete funding for a new Student Information System. - $30 million
• “Buy down” the tuition of the Louisiana Technical College to ensure low tuition rates. - $12 million

Expand "Rapid Response" Capacity

Establish a standing “Rapid Response” training fund to address urgent workforce needs. - $15 million

Louisiana, perhaps more than any other state, has learned the value of “rapid response” training. Employment needs change constantly, thus in order to serve both the marketplace and our students, we must have the capacity to offer programs – sometimes rapidly - that will produce a steady stream of skilled workers.

Establish Centers of Excellence
Establish “Centers of Excellence” to meet industry demand in key sectors.

The LCTCS will establish four “Centers of Excellence” at key campuses throughout the state to offer flexible, quality education and training programs for targeted industries that drive Louisiana’s economy.

Marine Manufacturing Technology Institute - $21.25 million
Southeast Louisiana

This institute will support Louisiana’s $3.9 billion shipbuilding industry by delivering state-of-the-art training and education.

Institute for Cyber Security Technology - $12.5 million
Northwest Louisiana

This Center will provide access to cutting edge education and training opportunities for cyber operators in support of the Barksdale Air Force Base Cyber Command and Cyber Innovations Center.

Gulf Coast Institute for Energy Production Technology - $14.5 million
Southwest Louisiana

This Center will serve as a sector hub for emerging energy exploration and production technologies including natural gas regassification.

Gulf Coast Institute for Emergency Preparedness and Response - $17.75 million
South Central Louisiana

This Center will develop innovative programs related to disaster planning, response and recovery. It will also train first responders and emergency preparedness officers.

ENHANCE FACILITIES
Provide facilities to meet both current & future workforce needs. - $27.6 Million

LCTCS Capital Outlay FY 2008-2009

Community Colleges	Project Total
Delgado Community College (Emergency Project)	3,600,000
Nunez Community College (Allied Health Facility)	5,200,000
Delgado Community College (City Park Campus, New Classroom Building)	12,000,000
Community College Total	$ 20,800,000
Louisiana Technical College
Ruston Campus	1,700,000
Teche Area Campus, New Iberia	2,000,000
LTC West and East Jefferson	1,600,000
Morgan Smith Campus, Jennings	1,500,000
LTC Total	$ 6,800,000
Total LCTCS Capital Outlay
Recommendations 2009	$ 27,600,000

:: Download 2008 Platform brochure here ::

:: Download Transforming Louisiana’s Workforce Presentation ::