Stronger Together How Two Colleges Enabled Adult Learners to Reskill and Fill In-Demand Healthcare Jobs

Today, the Alamo Colleges District and CHCP partnered on the release of a new case study to address the talent shortages faced in the San Antonio region.

Postsecondary education must serve a new majority learner—adult learners, juggling family responsibilities and busy schedules—who require innovative pathways to access education and higher paying occupations.” This case study demonstrates how the partnership created benefits for all involved by:

• Helping regional healthcare systems and providers fill a critical and fast growing entry level position—Medical Assistants (MAs). MAs carry out clinical, administrative, and procedural tasks in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Boosting the impact of the City of San Antonio’s Train for Jobs SA program to retrain unemployed and underemployed workers for high-demand careers.
• Providing San Antonio’s adult learners—1st Generation, low income, students of color— the classes, wraparound services, and skills needed to pass their certification. As a result, 100% of the case study graduates were offered MA positions.

The case study’s title is Stronger Together, to highlight how the two institutions worked closely to serve students in ways that aligned with their circumstances, helped local employers find diverse, qualified talent, and enhanced economic mobility within the community. Led by Dr. Sammi Morrill, Associate Vice Chancellor of Operations, Economic & Workforce Development, Alamo Colleges District, and Eric Bing, Chancellor and CEO, CHCP, this partnership provides exportable lessons for other institutions, workforce development agencies, and policymakers. Jason A. Tyszko, VP, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, observed, “What stands out about this partnership is: putting learners first and ensuring that they access the right program for their needs and in a timely manner.”

The case study demonstrates how institutions with a shared commitment to a student-centric strategy can help more Amercians get the skills they need for higher paying jobs in an industry facing a major talent shortfall. In the words of WorkingNation president, Jane Oates, “Alamo and CHCP have modeled how a partnership can achieve common goals: enroll and graduate more adult learners and providing placement assistance in jobs that local employers need to fill. This is a model that can be expanded to other fields.

The full case study can be found here.