The Future Ready New Jersey Coalition was recently launched by the state’s 18 community colleges and various partners. The coalition brings together leaders from education, business, workforce, philanthropy, and other sectors to promote economic mobility for residents of New Jersey.
Aaron Fichtner, President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC), explained the coalition’s objective: “The coalition’s goal was to shape state policies that prioritize education and workforce development to ensure more opportunities for New Jerseyans to earn postsecondary credentials of value that lead to good jobs.”
On September 30, about 140 representatives from educational institutions, businesses, community organizations, nonprofits, public workforce agencies, researchers, librarians, and government attended a daylong event at Middlesex College. The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) is among the founding partners of this new initiative.
The coalition builds on several existing efforts: NJCCC’s Opportunity Agenda: A Collective Roadmap for Action and a Future Ready New Jersey; the Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative; and participation in the Lumina Foundation’s FutureReady States Initiative. According to data from the Lumina Foundation, in 2023 about 59.3% of adults in New Jersey held a postsecondary degree or credential. This places New Jersey eighth nationally for attainment rates behind states such as Washington State (59.5%), Connecticut (60.1%), Minnesota (61.7%), Utah (61.7%), Colorado (63%), Massachusetts (63%), and Washington D.C. (70.4%).
Chauncy Lennon, Vice President for Learning and Work and Senior Strategy Advisor at the Lumina Foundation, said: “Lumina is investing in FutureReady States with the primary goal to promote increased attainment of short-term credentials with value in the labor market.”
Maria Heidkamp, Chief Innovation and Policy Officer at NJCCC, presented data supporting a proposed new goal: raising educational attainment so that by 2040 at least 75% of adults have postsecondary degrees or credentials considered “of value.” She defined this as credentials leading to jobs with salaries exceeding median earnings for high school graduates by at least 15%. Heidkamp stated: “Of value” is defined as leading to jobs with salaries and wages that exceed the median earnings of a high school graduate by at least 15%.”
Coalition members are expected to continue their involvement through subgroup activities focused on data analysis, program implementation, and policy development over the coming months.
For those interested in joining the coalition or seeking further information, contact Maria Heidkamp at mheidkamp@njcommunitycolleges.org.
