In an exciting development, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) has acquired the SkillPointe technology platform, creating countless opportunities for students and employers alike. At a gathering hosted by the Cary Chamber of Commerce in Cary, North Carolina, NACCE announced this game-changing acquisition, which has the potential to revolutionize higher education and workforce development.
With 60% of high school graduates initially pursuing four-year degrees but nearly half dropping out after two years, many students find themselves on the wrong career path. Conversely, employers struggle to fill jobs that require minimal training but offer significant earning potential. This imbalance is the very issue that SkillPointe was designed to address, making its alignment with NACCE a transformative opportunity for higher education and workforce development. Todd Wilson, founder of SkillPointe and advisor to NACCE, emphasized the vital role that this partnership will play in connecting students with high-paying, in-demand careers.
The SkillPointe platform provides information on over 1,000 community colleges and their 60,000 training programs across 80 lucrative career paths that require minimal training. This allows students to explore career options and connect with opportunities for high-earning potential.
Rebecca Corbin, president & CEO of NACCE, described how SkillPointe attracts an audience that hasn’t previously engaged with community college websites, offering employers the chance to access skilled workers. The platform has already garnered over one million users, over half of whom come from ethnically diverse backgrounds, providing employers with a diverse pool of skilled workers.
With the acquisition of SkillPointe, NACCE aims to further its mission of promoting equitable access to postsecondary education and prosperity for all. By leveraging the SkillPointe platform, NACCE believes it can accelerate its efforts in addressing the skills gap and creating a more robust pipeline of skilled workers to meet the needs of employers across various industries.
As of August 2023, North Carolina’s labor force participation rate has faced a worker shortage, with only 55 workers for every 100 jobs. The SkillPointe platform provides guidance on career exploration, training and licensing requirements, scholarship opportunities, and salary information, consolidating all this crucial information in one place.
With over 60,000 users already referred to community college websites, the potential for growth is enormous. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there will be over 3.3 million job openings annually for the career paths SkillPointe promotes, making the continued referrals and conversion of users into enrolled students a high priority.
In addition to acquiring SkillPointe, NACCE has brought Debbie Poplin, former executive director of SkillPointe, on board as Chief of Staff. Alvin Townley will continue in his role as Executive Director of the SkillPointe Foundation. NACCE also welcomes Todd Wilson as an advisor, reinforcing its commitment to integrating the leadership and expertise of the SkillPointe team.
NACCE is a 501(c)3 nonprofit association with a focus on igniting entrepreneurship in classrooms, on campuses, and in communities. As a national leader in entrepreneurship education at community colleges, NACCE represents nearly 400 colleges and approximately 3.3 million students, with its headquarters in Cary, North Carolina. SkillPointe, on the other hand, champions skills-based careers by offering a comprehensive platform for self-assessment, career exploration, access to training programs, scholarships, and job listings.
This strategic acquisition has the potential to reshape the landscape of higher education and workforce development, as NACCE and SkillPointe join forces to address the skills gap and provide students with a path to prosperous, high-earning careers.
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