On Thursday, May 4th, IWU’s president, Dr. Jon Kulaga traveled to Indianapolis to meet with Indiana Governor, Eric Holcomb, and other Indiana officials to discuss productive pathways to workforce development across the state. The day consisted of a series of meetings to discuss the Governor’s Workforce Development Project. Dr. Kulaga shared with state leaders the ways in which IWU’s initiatives align and support the Governor’s recommendations for workforce initiatives that prepare a future workforce with skilled workers.
IWU has been a pioneer and a leader in innovation in higher education for over 40 years. The university planted regional centers in the 80s and launched online programs in the early 2000s. IWU continues its longstanding commitment to prepare students for jobs through our innovative education modalities. Prior to Dr. Kulaga’s meeting with government officials, IWU National & Global Chancellor, Dr. Eileen Hulme, met with Whitney Ertel, Executive Director of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, to introduce information about IWU’s programs. Dr. Kulaga extended this conversation at the May 4th meetings by demonstrating the ways IWU’s programs are consistent in furthering Holcomb’s vision. Dr. Kulaga focused on three IWU educational pathways which strengthen Indiana’s workforce. IWU’s three pathways consist of connecting employers to skilled workers, eliminating barriers to the workforce, and equip skilled workers for the future.
First, IWU is committed to connecting employers to skilled workers by developing programs specifically designed for this purpose. Programs like the Eleven Fifty Academy serve to provide technical skills for Hoosier workers in the technical sector. IWU also offers Cyber Security Certificates and Degree Programs through Talent Ladder. In addition, IWU just signed a deal with the Indiana Manufacturers Association (IMA) as an education partner offering cyber, data analytics, digital marketing, and entry-level MFG supervisor training and a subscription to the Valor training catalog. IMA has 950 corporate members representing 450,000 employees. IWU’s intentional efforts to provide skills to the existing workforce closes employer and employee gaps.
Second, IWU has created ways to eliminate barriers to the workforce. For example, the New Career Acceleration Program and Career Mobile Lab provide communities, less informed about higher education, with tangible options to strengthen existing skills and promote career advancement. IWU also offers military-aligned programs, prison education programs, and reduced tuition for churches and non-profits in the Bridges initiative. In addition, IWU will launch a new competency-based Transition to Teaching program in August for individuals with a bachelor’s degree to become classroom ready in 12 months. IWU is breaking through the roadblocks which keep people from achieving career goals and advancement.
Third, IWU’s initiatives equip skilled workers for the future. Initiatives like the new leadership development curriculum will grow mid-level managers who have been promoted but are not yet ready to take over supervision. This curriculum, coming in the fall of 2023, includes preparation to supervise a diverse workforce using game theory and VR modalities. IWU also provides Coaching Corp which is built to support leadership training in multiple industries and improve employee retention. Another initiative, through the School of Integrated Health, addresses future needs of the healthcare industry, including new certifications this fall for informatics, healthcare entrepreneurship, and AI in healthcare. These cutting-edge programs equip existing employees for the long term.
Dr. Kulaga shared IWU’s vision with Governor Holcomb and Indiana’s workforce development leaders. Dr. Kulaga met with Denny Spinner, Executive Director of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, who oversees the provision of resources to local, state, and national partners to assist communities in shaping and achieving community and economic development. Dr. Kulaga also met with Carol D’Amico, Ed. D., a nationally recognized reformer of higher education who currently serves as a Strategic Advisor at Tom P. Miller Associates with a focus on educational opportunities. Also present at the meetings was Representative of Indiana’s 37th District and Speaker of the House, Todd. Huston. Matthew Butler also attended and is the Senior Policy Advisor for Education and Workforce in Indiana, advising the Governor on education and workforce. The Governor’s Executive Director of the Workforce Cabinet, Whitney Ertal, joined the day’s conversation as well. She was already aware of IWU’s contributions consistent with the cabinet’s efforts.
At the end of the day, Dr. Kulaga said, “It was a great honor to meet with Governor Holcomb and learn more about his priorities surrounding the workforce development needs of Indiana. We were able to share several initiatives that Indiana Wesleyan University is currently pursuing that perfectly align with the Governor’s priorities, and we were thrilled to see the common vision we both shared for serving the workforce needs of Indiana residents and future employers.”
Governor Eric Holcomb has worked to align Indiana’s K-12 standards with higher education, workforce, and economic development to empower Hoosiers with a strong economic future. Under his leadership, Indiana’s economy is robust, and employers and employees are witnessing record-breaking years of job commitment and capital investments committed by Indiana companies. IWU’s commitment to partnering in these efforts gained the Governor’s attention. Thanks to the preparation students receive at IWU, over the past 100 years, more than 100,000 IWU alumni grew into the next stage of their careers. Historically strong and with a unified vision for the future, Dr. Kulaga was honored to share the university’s initiatives. Indiana’s economic development shows enduring promise through the leadership of Holcomb and IWU’s vision for equipping the workforce through higher education will contribute to Indiana’s continued economic growth.