APSCU : Private Sector Colleges and Universities; Answering the President’s Call to Rebuild the Middle Class through Education and Skills Training

For Immediate Release                                                    

February 12, 2013               

Contacts: Kevin Lawlor, 301-686-8025

Private Sector Colleges and Universities; Answering the President’s Call to Rebuild the Middle Class through Education and Skills Training

Washington, DC:  In his State of the Union Speech, President Obama spoke about his commitment to strengthening the middle class by making America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing and by equipping every American with the skills they need to do those jobs.

“Today there are 12 million unemployed and 2.5 million under-employed men and women in America.  We are told by workforce experts that 85% of new jobs and 65% of all jobs will require postsecondary education. Private sector colleges and universities (PSCUs), by combining postsecondary education with career skills, stand ready to work with the Obama Administration and the Congress to provide students the tools and skills they need to compete,” said Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) President and CEO, Steve Gunderson. 

During the length of the recent recession, between 2008 and 2012, PSCUs conferred 1.5 million degrees and 1.85 million certificates, helping to fill the nearly 3 million jobs left vacant due to lack of skills.  This “skills gap,” has been keeping middle class Americans from finding work, and preventing business owners from hiring the workers they need here in the US. 

“Private sector colleges and universities have made closing this gap our mission,” said Gunderson.  “Our schools are the leading innovators in skills-based, career-focused training in high-demand industries.  This is why employers rely so heavily on our graduates.”

Today, 92% of our students meet one or more standards as non-traditional students. 64% of PSCU students are Pell Grant recipients, 67% are 25 years of age or older, 31% are single parents, and 76% are independent of their parents.  “Our students are the men and women that President Obama is counting on to make the middle class stronger, we need to work with one another to not only help these students, but open doors for all Americans looking for access and opportunity.”

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The Atlantic: The 38 States That Have Slashed Higher Education Spending

Jordan Weissmann is an associate editor at The Atlantic. He has written for a number of publications, including The Washington Post and The National Law Journal.

The last few years haven't exactly been gentle to our public colleges and universities, or the students who attend them. Cash-poor state legislatures have gone to town on their higher education budgets, and as they've hacked away, tuition has risen along with the sums undergraduates have had to borrow. In total, 38 states cut post-secondary funding since the recession, many by more than a fifth.
So in that light, it sadly can be considered welcome news that just 16 states are planning to slash their spending any further in FY 2013, according to the Grapevine project at Illinois State University, which released its annual roundup of state-by-state higher-ed funding on Tuesday. The worst cuts this year are pending in Florida (8 percent), Alabama (6 percent) and New Jersey (5.5 percent). Another 16 legislatures increased their budgets by less than 2 percent, which will likely amount to a cut once inflation takes its bite. On the other hand, that means higher-ed will get a budget boost in 18 states. So let's say the glass is 1/3 full.
Even with these small improvements, though, the post-recession funding picture is still pretty grisly. First, the states that cut.

And now, the states that spent. (Don't be too impressed by Illinois -- these funding hikes are largely meant to cover unfunded pension liabilities).

Collectively, states are spending 10.8 percent less than they were five years ago, when the recession began. That's a deep wound that will take time to heal -- if it ever fully does.

FAPSC Press Release: State Association Selects Career Education and Workforce Veteran To Lead as New Executive Director

Curtis C. Austin will direct Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Dec. 12, 2012 – Dean Bartness, President of the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools, announced today that Curtis C. Austin has been selected by the board of directors as the organization’s new Executive Director.

Mr. Austin brings to the association more than 20 years’ experience in higher education, workforce policy and public advocacy in Tallahassee.

FAPSC, founded more than 55 years ago, is a statewide organization representing more than 200 private, career-oriented colleges and schools.

"Curtis Austin has an impressive record of excellence and executive level management in career and professional higher education,” said FAPSC President Dean Bartness. "He is uniquely qualified for this important job to serve association member schools by promoting access, advocacy and accountability.”

Mr. Austin most recently served as Director of State and Government Relations with Keiser University, where in the last five years he also has served in associate vice chancellor positions in government relations and business development. Before joining Keiser, Mr. Austin spent seven years as President and CEO of Workforce Florida, the statewide, business-led workforce policy board. Prior to that, Mr. Austin served nine years with The Florida Senate, including time as Staff Director for the Commerce and Economic Opportunity Committee and Staff Director of the Executive Business, Ethics and Elections Committee. He began his career as an assistant professor of communications and director of forensics at Florida State University.

Mr. Austin has a solid understanding of the role of private career schools and colleges in the state of Florida. His knowledge of the state higher education system, boards, workforce needs and legislative process positions him to be a strong advocate and voice for FAPSC and its member schools, FAPSC President Bartness said.

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About FAPSC 
The Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges (FAPSC) works on behalf of all Florida’s degree granting and non-degree granting career schools and colleges. Licensed by the state, these schools educate and prepare more than 379,000 students each year for employment in more than 200 occupational fields. For more information, visit www.FAPSC.org.

Report: Duncan Would Stay for 2nd Term, Focus on College Prices | Inside Higher Ed

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