DEPARTMENTS: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEADS: Rene Dominguez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT:
The Economic and Human Development Committee (EHDC) will hear a briefing and request an authorization for funding of $82,000 for Upgrade, a program housed at Caf? College that is a regional collaboration to assist adults who have completed some college credits or training, obtain degrees and certificates that are needed for high-demand jobs in the San Antonio-area labor market.
SUMMARY:
Upgrade will market and outreach to adults who have completed some college with foundational college credits or training but who have not completed a degree or credential. A project director and a small team of trained advisors will help Upgrade adults assemble credits, connect to career pathways, and accelerate toward a degree or certificate. Higher education partners will identify ways to make degree completion more flexible and affordable for working adults as part of the Upgrade stakeholder network.
Staff requests authorization to invest $82,000 in Upgrade through the San Antonio Education Partnership of which $40,000 will be utilized towards administrative expenses and $42,000 for an additional staff position to focus specifically on City of San Antonio employees as a pilot demonstration to identify opportunities and develop career pathways to provide a model to other potential Upgrade business partners.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The 2015 SA2020 Talent Pipeline Report highlighted the shortage of trained individuals to fill the open middle skill jobs and identified a solution by focusing on two populations: opportunity youth and adults who have completed some college. Upgrade is a specific strategy that targets this population and is based on a national model called the "Graduate Network." It is a demand-driven model that matches adults to career pathways and to employers who have committed to job interviews. Upgrade is done in collaboration with SA Work...
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