Helping dislocated workers get back on track

February 2004

System part of safety net
Responding to the changing economic landscape is an important part of the mission of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Currently, one of the most pressing needs around the state is helping large numbers of dislocated workers transition into new careers in promising industries. The system, which is an important part of the safety net, provides about 95 percent of all dislocated worker training in Minnesota.

More workers trained in 2003
Flexible, specialized training through the system is helping thousands of workers get their lives and their careers back on track. The system reports training 18 percent more dislocated workers in fiscal year 2003 than in the previous year, according to preliminary numbers. In other words, the system's colleges enrolled 4,914 laid-off workers in programs leading to degrees and certificates, compared with 4,171 the previous fiscal year.

Helping translate skills
By analyzing market trends and tapping industry connections, system colleges are designing unique programs that help individuals quickly translate their current skills into new positions in emerging or growing industries. Training is primarily delivered by the system's two year colleges, which have close ties to state workforce centers. Typically, training and education for dislocated workers is less than one year in length.

Dislocated worker data
More than 90 percent of the individuals served in credentialed training are served at two-year colleges. The overall placement rate was 82 percent and the average hourly placement wage for all individuals in credentialed training was $14.10 from July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2003. This was 86 percent of the average hourly wage the individual was earning when they were dislocated ($16.34). The average hourly placement wage for individuals receiving credentialed training at a state university was 94 percent of the dislocation wage. (Data does not include individuals served in rural Minnesota CEP and Benton-Stearns.

Responsive, coordinated approach
In response to massive industry layoffs, the system created a new coordinating office to match dislocated workers with training programs. In some cases the coordinating office designs new programs to meet the specific needs of employers and groups of dislocated workers. Previously, counselors and clients had to navigate educational institutions and opportunities themselves. This innovative clearinghouse communicates with 515 certified providers of dislocated worker services, whose goal is to place clients in appropriate training as soon as possible. At the core is an Internet capability that keeps the office abreast of new job and educational information and serves as an information management tool.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System comprises 32 institutions on 53 campuses throughout Minnesota and is a critical source of occupational training and education in the state. The system serves about 240,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 130,000 students in non-credit courses. The system is responsive to the needs of business, collaborating with employers to provide affordable, customized training and education programs.

System training programs that address issue

Medical billing program designed for dislocated workers
A five-week medical billing program was designed and created by Inver Hills Community College at the urging of Allina Health Systems, Blue Cross Blue Shield and St. Paul Children's Hospital. The program, which is designed for dislocated workers from a range of occupations, has been so popular that it has run five consecutive times and trained about 100 workers. Most have been hired immediately.

Contact: Gail Morrison, Inver Hills Community College, 651-450-8500

Nursing programs accommodate laid-off workers
Anoka Technical College created a new section of practical nursing to accommodate about 20 dislocated workers from various industries.

Last year, to quickly accommodate laid-off and displaced workers and address the increasing nursing shortage problem in northeast Minnesota, Itasca Community College developed an innovative "fast-track" licensed practical nursing program. The LPN program, which has doubled in size over the past year, has helped to employ displaced workers, train more nurses and improve the economic vitality of the region.

Contact: Carol Church, Director of Nursing - (218) 327-4469 or cchurch@it.cc.mn.us

Biomedical technology program created for laid-off airline mechanics
A one-year biomedical technology program was created for laid-off airline mechanics at Dakota County Technical College. The program, which ends in May, builds on the existing electronics skills of the mechanics. Of the 52 people enrolled in the program, several have already found jobs.

Contact: Larry Raddatz, Dakota County Technical College, 651-423-8200

Colleges partner with workforce centers to help workers

Hennepin Technical College operates a computer training lab at the Bloomington Workforce Center, which trained about 260 dislocated workers in 2003. A number of different classes are offered to help program participants brush up on their job-hunting and computer skills.

Contact: Dale Shevland, Hennepin Technical College, 763-550-7164

The Center for Training and Development at North Hennepin Community College partners with the Minnesota WorkForce Center - Hennepin North to offer evening open enrollment courses at the WorkForce Center's Brooklyn Park Facility. The continuing education courses - focused on job skills, computer training and "soft skills" - often lead to industry certifications. Last fiscal year, the Center processed 1,250 dislocated worker registrations.

Contact: Jaime Boretski, North Hennepin Community College,
763-493-0501

Program created for displaced mine & mill workers in northeast Minnesota
In northeast Minnesota, new training and education programs were created in Hibbing, Ely, Grand Rapids, Virginia and Eveleth for displaced mine and mill workers. The five colleges in the Northeast Higher Education District created or adapted programs in carpentry, masonry, nursing and other areas to accommodate those displaced workers.

Fuel oil processing technology program created
A short-term program in fuel oil processing technology was created at Inver Hills Community College for dislocated airline mechanics. The program, which enrolled 20, is sponsored by several companies.

Contact: Nancy Conner, Public Affairs, at 651-296-0541 or nancy.conner@so.mnscu.edu for more information.