The League for Innovation in the Community College

CWS equips students for future careers by aligning training with market needs and industry demands.

Empowers community colleges with AI-focused education for enhanced governance, teaching, and leadership.

Connect, collaborate, and innovate at the premier conference for community college professionals.

Provides institutions with a wide range of resources to enhance educational practices and student success.

Access a comprehensive collection of innovative resources for higher education.

Empowers underserved communities by creating sustainable career pathways.

Aligns associate degrees with industry needs through embedded certifications for career success.

Facilitates access to retail management careers for underserved populations through structured pathways.

Enhancing public health education and infection control training in community colleges.

Community Colleges And Higher Education Institutions

North American and international colleges pursuing innovation, workforce alignment, and student success.

Geography: North America and International

How we help: Helps higher education institutions improve student outcomes and workforce readiness through scalable, evidence-based programs, leadership development resources, and collaborative industry partnerships.

Workforce Development Leaders And Employer Partners

Employer-aligned, state and regional workforce programs that accelerate job readiness.

Geography: North America And Regional Ecosystems

How we help: Supports employers and regional partners with co-designed, outcomes-driven training programs and research-backed resources that accelerate talent development and alignment with industry needs.

Public Health Education Collaborations

Public health and infection control education within community colleges.

Geography: North America

How we help: Equips colleges to embed infection control and public health education through curated resources and partnerships.

Retail Workforce Pathways For Underserved Populations

Pathways for underserved populations into retail management careers.

Geography: North America

How we help: Provides structured retail pathways and industry partnerships to elevate underrepresented talent into management roles.

Programs that develop apprenticeships, internships, and employer-aligned skill-building to increase job placement and regional economic mobility.

Products: Center for Workforce Solutions, Certification + Degree Pathways, Walmart Brighter Futures, On-Ramping Underserved Populations to Career Pathways in Retail Management

Education, governance, and implementation support that equips faculty and institutional leaders to integrate AI responsibly into curriculum, teaching practices, and institutional strategy.

Products: AI Academy

Subscription and event-based learning resources including searchable libraries, webinars, on-demand recordings, and conference materials for faculty and administrative professional development.

Products: iStream, Innovation Library, Innovations Conference, AI Academy

Initiatives and convenings that build institutional capacity for instructional transformation, cross-institution collaboration, leadership development, and adoption of evidence-based practices.

Products: Innovations Conference, Innovation Library, AI Academy

Curricula, projects, and partnerships that integrate public health education, infection control, and community-centered workforce equity programs into community college offerings.

Products: Public Health Projects, Walmart Brighter Futures, On-Ramping Underserved Populations to Career Pathways in Retail Management

Center for Workforce Solutions

The League's Center for Workforce Solutions (CWS) aligns educational programs with the evolving job market to equip students with skills for the future economy. It emphasizes industry collaboration and workplace transformation to prepare learners for high-demand roles. As the home of the National Workforce Acceleration Engine, CWS coordinates a multi-platform framework that connects industry, education, and states around career pathways. Through structured Industry Leadership Groups (ILGs) and Education Leadership Groups (ELGs), CWS supports the co-design of fast-track, stackable, employer-validated training that moves learners into in-demand jobs at scale. Its operating platforms include My Future America (MFA), state-based workforce ecosystems, and industry-specific hubs, with five inaugural focus areas including Aerospace & Defense and Construction.

• Foster Collaboration Across Sectors
  Facilitates partnerships that enhance educational offerings by integrating feedback and expertise from industry leaders.
• Drive Fast-Track Career Pathways
  Provides accelerated programs designed to quickly connect learners to jobs in high-demand sectors.
• Facilitates Rapid Skill Acquisition
  Streamlines the process of getting learners job-ready quickly, addressing immediate labor market needs.
• Strengthens Workforce Ecosystems
  Creates effective partnerships that facilitate better employment outcomes and economic growth.
• Enhance Workplace Transformation
  Drives alignment between educational institutions and industry needs, ensuring that training is relevant and effective.
• Ensures Job Market Relevance
  Guarantees that the skills taught align with employer needs, enhancing job placement opportunities.
• Utilize Diverse Platforms
  Employs multiple frameworks to support various industries and learner needs, enhancing accessibility and relevance.
• Expands Training Accessibility
  Provides diverse options for education and training, accommodating various learner needs and preferences.

AI Academy

AI Academy provides AI-focused education and training for community colleges, offering curriculum, events, and resources to support AI adoption in governance, teaching, and leadership. The program equips institutions with knowledge and practical tools to integrate AI responsibly and effectively.

• Enhance Faculty Skills
  Equip faculty with the skills needed to integrate AI effectively into their curricula, enhancing the quality of education.
• Create Engaging Learning Environments
  Enable faculty to design and implement innovative learning experiences that leverage AI technologies.
• Facilitate Strategic Initiatives
  Help college leadership develop and implement strategic initiatives around AI, ensuring effective integration and management.
• Promote Ethical AI Usage
  Equip educators with the knowledge to navigate ethical challenges and implement responsible AI practices.
• Drive Institutional Change
  Facilitate the creation of robust AI strategies that align with institutional goals and enhance educational outcomes.
• Access to Expert Insights
  Provide ongoing learning opportunities through webinars that explore the latest trends in AI and its educational applications.

Innovations Conference

The Innovations Conference is a premier international gathering for community college professionals held in Indianapolis. It features keynote sessions, breakout tracks across Leadership and Organization, Learning and Teaching, Student Support and Development, and Workforce Preparation and Development, plus a Solutions Center and networking opportunities. A conference app facilitates schedule planning and sponsor engagement.

• Foster Collaboration
  The conference creates an environment where professionals from different sectors collaborate and share innovative practices that enhance community college education.
• Gain Insights
  Keynote sessions are led by industry leaders, providing insights on critical issues facing community colleges and strategies to address them effectively.
• Plan Your Schedule
  The conference app provides essential tools for attendees to plan their schedules, connect with sponsors, and navigate the event smoothly.
• Network with Peers
  Engage with fellow attendees to share knowledge, build professional relationships, and collaborate on future initiatives.
• Explore Innovations
  Attendees can explore the Solutions Center, showcasing various products and services that support educational innovation and can benefit their institutions.

iStream

iStream is the League’s comprehensive digital library, offering a subscription-based access model to a broad collection of leadership and higher education resources.

• Access Extensive Resources
  With comprehensive collections, users can explore a diverse range of materials designed to support educational improvement.
• Utilize Resources Anytime
  Users can access required materials instantly, facilitating timely support for educators and staff.
• Flexible Subscription Plans
  Institutions can choose subscription plans tailored to their needs, ensuring relevant access to valuable resources.
• Enhance Professional Learning
  Webinars provide additional learning opportunities, allowing participants to stay updated on best practices and innovations.
• Access Event Insights
  Subscribers can revisit important sessions and insights from key industry events to enhance knowledge and application.

Innovation Library

Innovation Library aggregates articles, reports, videos, monographs, and more. It is a searchable repository designed to help users locate innovative practices and resources in higher education, with advanced search capabilities.

• Refine Search Results Effortlessly
  Users can easily narrow down search results using advanced filtering options, enhancing their ability to find relevant content quickly.
• Locate Innovation Resources Quickly
  The repository allows users to efficiently search and discover a variety of innovative resources that can support their educational and institutional goals.
• Access Varied Learning Materials
  The library provides a rich mix of formats, ensuring that users can engage with content in the way that best suits their learning preferences.
• Gain Full Access to Resources
  Subscribers can utilize a wide range of professional development tools, including free webinars, publications, and recordings, fostering continuous learning and improvement.

Walmart Brighter Futures

Walmart Brighter Futures is a League workforce development initiative in partnership with Walmart. It focuses on building talent pipelines and career pathways to support underserved communities and improve workforce outcomes.

• Improves Career Opportunities
  Offers tailored programs that address the unique needs of underserved populations, enhancing their employability.
• Builds Talent Pipelines
  Facilitates direct connections between local educational institutions and Walmart to enhance workforce readiness.
• Strengthens Pathways
  Develops partnerships with local industries to create job opportunities and ensure sustainable employment for community members.
• Addresses Food Insecurity
  Aims to alleviate food shortage challenges in community colleges through effective models created with partner support.

Certification + Degree Pathways

A three-year ECMC Foundation grant project to embed industry certifications into associate degree programs. Partners include multiple colleges to co-design and implement pathways, and resources include a Playbook for Certification + Degree Pathways.

• Enhances Career Readiness
  By embedding industry certifications within degree programs, students gain essential qualifications that improve their job prospects and career advancement opportunities.
• Facilitates Resource Sharing
  Collaboration among colleges enables the sharing of best practices and resources, streamlining the process of developing effective certification pathways.
• Offers Practical Guidance
  The Playbook serves as a comprehensive guide for institutions seeking to adopt or enhance Certification + Degree Pathways, ensuring best practices and effective strategies are utilized.

On-Ramping Underserved Populations to Career Pathways in Retail Management

A project to build pathways that bring underserved populations into retail management careers, including model development and industry partnerships to establish scalable career pathways.

• Establish Industry Partnerships
  Collaborates with industry leaders to ensure pathways are recognized and beneficial for students entering the retail management field.
• Create Accessible Pathways
  Ensures that career pathways are tailored to meet the needs of first-generation and low-income students, facilitating their entry into retail management.
• Replicate Successful Pathways
  Develops a standardized model for creating career pathways that can easily be adopted by various educational institutions.
• Provide Holistic Support
  Connects students with mentoring, tutoring, and career counseling to enhance their chances of success in retail management careers.
• Analyze Pathway Outcomes
  Tracks and assesses the success of students in retail management to refine and enhance career pathways.

Public Health Projects

Public Health Projects support infection control and public health education in community colleges, including Project Firstline: Infection Control in Community College Curriculum and Community Colleges and Public Health.

• Enhance Curriculum Standards
  This feature ensures that nursing and allied health students receive crucial training in infection control practices, preparing them for effective roles in healthcare settings.
• Increase Public Health Awareness
  This program raises awareness and education regarding public health among community college students, positioning them to contribute effectively to public health challenges.
• Strengthen Community Partnerships
  By promoting partnerships within community health initiatives, this feature encourages resource sharing and collaborative efforts to improve public health outcomes.