Hiram – With the recent passage of the federal budget and sponsorship of Congressman Dave Joyce, Hiram College will receive a $665,000 federal earmark that will provide start-up funds for a new Office of Workforce Development and Community Engagement to be housed on the college’s campus.
Once established, the Office of Workforce Development and Civic Engagement will coordinate the college’s existing efforts in both workforce development and community engagement, as well as enabling new initiatives in career development, workforce pipelines, entrepreneurship, mentoring, corporate education, and civic engagement.
“This new office will advance both student and institutional engagement in the community, providing valuable life and work skills for students while advancing the regional economy,” said David Haney, Ph.D., president of Hiram College. “I am grateful for the support for this initiative shown by area workforce development organizations, industries, and our political leadership on both sides of the aisle.”
The office will also engage in new initiatives, including direct communication with industry partners about emerging needs for workforce credentials that Hiram can supply, expanded professional mentorships, and engagement of students in community service and civic engagement activities that will help to develop 21st-century workforce and citizenship skills.
The Office of Workforce Development and Civic Engagement will support all degree programs on campus through internships, mentorships, community service projects, and the other curricular components that engage the college’s students through small student to faculty ratios, emphasis on mindful career choices that match individual strengths, real problem-solving skills, and the fostering of entrepreneurship skills through the Burton D. Morgan Center for Integrated Entrepreneurship and civic engagement through the Garfield Center for Public Leadership.
“I was pleased to see funding finally enacted for Hiram’s Office of Workforce Development and Civic Engagement,” said Congressman Dave Joyce. “I expect that this office will connect talented labor with the employers in northeast Ohio who are struggling to find workers. Initiatives such as this will both empower aspiring professionals and help our region’s local businesses thrive. While I could not support the final large omnibus spending bill that ultimately enacted this funding, I was glad to work with Hiram to help shepherd the project through the lengthy Appropriations Committee process.”
“Hiram College is one of our great institutions of higher education,” said Senator Sherrod Brown. “This investment in a new Office of Workforce Development and Civic Engagement will help connect students with internships, jobs, and community service opportunities to further their professional development and support the Hiram community.”
The funding will support the renovation of space on campus to serve as the home of the new office, as well as initial staffing, network, hardware, and software upgrades, and other operating costs.
Hiram College is now accepting applications for the founding Executive Director of Workforce Development and Community Engagement. More information on the position and application process can be found at www.hiram.edu/careers.
