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- 3. Tucson Regional Town Hall on work-force development
- When talk at the Tucson Regional Town Hall Tuesday morning turned to work-force development, members pointed a lot of fingers at education.
The solution proposed by several community leaders attending the event, designed to reveal what can be done to improve Tucson, is better communication between educators and employers, for which businesses must take some responsibility.
Participants in one of several small group discussions had the strong opinion that the University of Arizona isn't doing enough to engage the community and reach out to solve work-force deficiencies, said panel facilitator Warren Prostrollo. However, his group saw a new effort to change that, he said, and the group concluded that the solution is for the university and major employers to come together to address the disconnect.
Michael Proctor, an associate dean at the UA, said in his group that the university should increase its "two plus two" programs, which enable students with two years of community college education to transfer to the university for the third and fourth years of college. He also said the university should re-examine how UA South can best serve the community.
Bob Shatz, retired from Nomura Securities International Inc., said colleges represent only the supply side of the work force. He called for employers and economic-development officials to step up the demand side by adding good jobs and internships to "complete the loop" on work-force development.
And it's not just higher education that needs to change, said Mark Irvin, principal of Mark Irvin Commercial Real Estate Services. By focusing on reading in the early grade levels, young people will be more prepared for college or job training, he said.
"Education needs to hold business responsible," said Jacquelyn Jackson, director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's Tucson office. She blamed the watchdog group Arizona Tax Research Association for "eviscerating school funding in Arizona."
In several groups, participants admonished the community not to confuse high-wage jobs with high-tech jobs, said Judy Gignac, another facilitator. High-tech jobs are important, but there are plenty of high-wage jobs that don't involve technical skills, her group decided.
In one group, participants talked a lot about alternatives to current job training programs, including models that pay students to attend training, said facilitator Barbara Ralston.
A draft report of the Town Hall's recommendation for action in work-force development and a variety of other topics will be presented to the group today and published for the public in a few weeks. Town Hall chairman and UA president emeritus Peter Likins told the group he hopes each participant will leave as an "eager champion of change."
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at 573-4224 or at bpallack@azstarnet.com. - Updated: May 16, 2007
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