20 USC 1161c - Business workforce partnerships for job skill training in high-growth occupations or industries

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 1161c.

Business workforce partnerships for job skill training in high-growth occupations or industries

(a)

Purpose

The purpose of this section is to provide grants to institutions of higher education partnering with employers to—

(1)

provide relevant job skill training in high-growth and high-wage industries or occupations to nontraditional students; and

(2)

strengthen ties between degree credit offerings at institutions of higher education and business and industry workforce needs.

(b)

Authorization

(1)

In general

(2)

Duration

(3)

Supplement, not supplant

(c)

Use of funds

In consultation with all of the members of an eligible partnership, grant funds provided under this section may be used to—

(1)

expand or create for-credit academic programs or programs of training that provide relevant job skill training for high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries, including offerings connected to registered apprenticeship programs and entrepreneurial training opportunities;

(2)

in consultation with faculty in the appropriate departments of an institution of higher education, adapt college offerings to the schedules and needs of working students, such as the creation of evening, weekend, modular, compressed, or distance learning formats;

(3)

purchase equipment that will facilitate the development of academic programs or programs of training that provide training for high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries;

(4)

strengthen outreach efforts that enable students, including students with limited English proficiency, to attend institutions of higher education with academic programs or programs of training focused on high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries;

(5)

expand worksite learning and training opportunities, including registered apprenticeships as appropriate; and

(6)

support other activities the Secretary determines to be consistent with the purpose of this section.

(d)

Application

(1)

In general

(2)

Contents

Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include a description of—

(A)

how the eligible partnership, through the institution of higher education, will provide relevant job skill training for students to enter high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries; and

(B)

how the eligible partnership has consulted with employers and, where applicable, labor organizations to identify local high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries.

(e)

Award basis

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall—

(1)

give priority to applications focused on serving nontraditional students;

(2)

ensure an equitable distribution of grant funds under this section among urban and rural areas of the United States; and

(3)

take into consideration the capability of an institution of higher education that is participating in an eligible partnership to—

(A)

offer one- or two-year high-quality programs of instruction and job skill training for students entering a high-growth and high-wage occupation or industry;

(B)

involve the local business community, and to place graduates in employment in high-growth and high-wage occupations or industries in the community; and

(C)

serve adult workers or displaced workers.

(f)

Administrative costs

(g)

Technical assistance

(h)

Evaluation

(i)

Report to Congress

Not later than 36 months after the first grant is awarded under this section, the Comptroller General shall report to the authorizing committees recommendations—

(1)

for changes to this chapter and related Acts, such as the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 [20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.] and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (including titles I and II [29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq., 3271 et seq.]), to help create and sustain business and industry workforce partnerships at institutions of higher education; and

(2)

for other changes to this chapter and related Acts to otherwise strengthen the links between business and industry workforce needs, workforce development programs, and other degree credit offerings at institutions of higher education.

(j)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Eligible partnership

(A)

In general

The term “eligible partnership” means a partnership that includes—

(i)

one or more institutions of higher education, one of which serves as the fiscal agent and grant recipient for the eligible partnership;

(ii)

except as provided in subparagraph (B), an employer, group of employers, local board (as such term is defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [29 U.S.C. 3102]), or workforce intermediary, or any combination thereof; and

(iii)

where applicable, one or more labor organizations that represent workers locally in the businesses or industries that are the focus of the partnership, including as a result of such an organization’s representation of employees at a worksite at which the partnership proposes to conduct activities under this section.

(B)

State and local boards

(C)

Rule of construction

(2)

Nontraditional student

The term “nontraditional student” means a student—

(A)

who is an independent student, as defined in section 1087vv(d) of this title;

(B)

who attends an institution of higher education—

(i)

on less than a full-time basis;

(ii)

via evening, weekend, modular, or compressed courses; or

(iii)

via distance education methods; and

(C)

who—

(i)

enrolled for the first time in an institution of higher education three or more years after completing high school; or

(ii)

works full-time.

(k)

Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 89–329, title VIII, § 803, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title VIII, § 801, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3382; amended Pub. L. 113–128, title V, § 512(n)(5), July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1710.)

cite as: 20 USC 1161c