Colorado One of Six States Aiming to Regulate AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) and mentions of how AI will impact our lives are all over my newsfeed. With good reason – keeping track of the myriad ways in which AI will impact our lives is daunting, so I honestly appreciate all of the “pro-tips” and considerations shared by colleagues and practitioners.
Did you know that Colorado is actually one of six states aiming to regulate AI? There is a tension between organizations such as labor unions and consumer advocacy groups – and industry – over more transparency from companies and greater legal resources for those who, through the use of AI, may face discrimination. State policy leaders in Colorado are working with lawmakers in Connecticut, Texas, Alaska, Georgia and Virginia on various provisions as a way to reinforce the importance of collaboration and compromise in the face of federal inaction on AI regulation.
How are higher education leaders thinking about AI? In my Forbes column, I recently wrote about how colleges and universities are leveraging partnerships to prepare for – and tackle – the AI era. A new AI primer authored by my Whiteboard Advisors colleague, Erica Price Burns for the Partnership for Educational Advancement, lays out ways in which many under-resourced colleges and universities can partner to plan and solve for AI integration. Read the primer here.
Setting aside AI, but focusing instead on workforce preparation, last week I learned that Colorado’s Reskilling, Upskilling and Next-skilling (RUN) program has enrolled almost 5,000 learners (and counting!) in training for industry-recognized credentials. Wow!
Shortly following the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado received $23.75 million to fund programs that give Coloradans the opportunity to pursue vocational and career readiness training. Nine non-profit organizations and all local workforce centers received funds to pay for programs in industries such as healthcare, technology, and early childhood education. RUN has also enabled many Coloradans to access digital literacy training, workforce readiness classes and programs that help them earn a high school equivalency diploma. Take a look at the breakdown across industries.
Finally, today, the Biden Administration announced their plan to create a new national recognition for higher education institutions that increase economic mobility. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to develop a new “Postsecondary Student Success Recognition Program”application and they are looking for information from the public to inform this annual recognition. ED plans to announce the award in early 2025.
Spotlight on Colorado Education and Workforce
On Wednesday, May 8, the Colorado Business Roundtable (COBRT) will host its annual Future of Work event, featuring a half-day immersive experience designed to help policy, industry and education leaders gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing Colorado’s workforce.
This year, the event will focus on Colorado’s untapped and under tapped talent who have not maximized their dreams for a sustainable career and prosperity.
I am excited to hear remarks from some incredible leaders from across the state including Janine Davidson, President of Metropolitan State University of Denver; John Marshall, President of Colorado Mesa University; Andy Feinstein, President of the University of Northern Colorado; Amy Parsons, President of Colorado State University and Mordecai Brownlee, President of the Community College of Aurora. They will all be joined by Katherine Keegan, Director of the Office of the Future of Work and Hanna Skandera, President and CEO of the Daniels Fund, who will moderate two of the day’s sessions.
The first session – Opportunity Accelerators: Disrupting Systems and Increasing Economic Mobility will encourage panelists to explore strategies that create opportunity and harness the talents and skills of veterans, individuals with disabilities, those in poverty, New Americans and seniors, among others. The second session – Creating an Ever-Ready Workforce: Implications for Higher Education will feature panelists who will talk about the abilities and skills required for the future differ from those of today. How will postsecondary education leaders contribute to building a workforce that remains agile and prepared, while also addressing the dynamics of the economy and the workplace?
The Future of Work: Bringing Sidelined Talent into the Game event will take place on Wednesday, May 8 from 1pm - 4pm at Empower Field at Mile High. Register here.
What We’re Reading (and Listening To…)
Early Childhood Education
Will a Child Care Center at Denver’s Airport Take Off?, by Ann Schimke of Chalkbeat Colorado
K-12 Education
A New Architecture for High School Learning, by Russlynn Ali and Timothy Knowles with The National Association of State Boards of Education
BVSD School Board Talks About Graduation Requirements, by Amy Bounds of Boulder Daily Camera
Postsecondary Education
Revitalizing Higher Education: A Blueprint For Transformative Change, by the Carnegie Foundation’s Postsecondary Commission (CPC)
Beyond the Divide: Advancing Digital Equity and Access, by Mordecai Ian Brownlee with WCET
A Generation Later, We Still Haven’t Updated the Nation’s Higher Education Law, by Yolanda Watson Spiva in RealClearEducation
To Better Serve First-Generation Students, Expand the Definition, by Olivia Sanchez of The Hechinger Report
New Title IX Rules Are Out. Here’s What You Need to Know, by Katherine Knott of Inside Higher Ed
Metro State Unveils ‘Cannabis Hospitality’ Program, by Staff at ColoradoBiz Magazine
CMU Seeking ‘First-Generation-Serving’ Designation, by Ja'Ronn Alex of KJCT News
Future of Work
Employees Aren’t Finding Purpose at Work. These 3 Big Ideas Would Help, by Stand Together Trust
Do Reemployment Bonuses Increase Employment? Evidence from the Idaho Return to Work Bonus Program, by Michael Strain & Duncan Hobbs with American Enterprise Institute
Forging Tomorrow’s Workforce Today at the 2024 NAWB Forum, by Colorado Workforce Development Council
New Skills-Based Hiring Bill Is a Big Step Forward for Equal Opportunity, by Michael Brickman & Sean Doolan of American Enterprise Institute
Spotlight: Meet Guild's New CEO, Bijal Shah, by Alayna Alvarez of Axios Denver
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Discovery Education & White House Initiative for Black Americans: Power Up Denver, April 29-30, Manual High School & Community College of Aurora
Jobs for the Future: Racial and Gender Gaps in Student Financial Insecurity & Proposed Solutions, April 29, 11am-12pm MT (Virtual)
American Student Assistance & Jobs for the Future: A Path Forward: Innovative Solutions to Build a Modern Workforce for GenZ+, April 30, 11am-12pm MT (Virtual)
NEW! Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN): Strategic Insights: Exploring Competency-Based Education Implementation, April 30, 1-2pm MT (Virtual)
The Attainment Network: Call for Proposals at the Career-Connected L/Earning Conference, final deadline for proposals is May 3
Jobs for the Future: JFFLabs Demo Day: Youth Skills First Entrepreneurs, May 8, 11am-12pm MT (Virtual)
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools: National Charter Schools Week 2024, May 12-18
Inside Higher Ed: 2024 Survey of College and University Presidents, May 27, 12pm MT (Virtual)
The Attainment Network: Career-Connected L/Earning Conference, September 18-19, Aims Community College, Greeley, CO
Colleagues on the Move
Dr. Justin Schwartz has been named the next Chancellor of the University of Colorado-Boulder, beginning July 1. Dr. Schwartz is currently the Executive Vice President and Provost at Pennsylvania State University.
Maurice Jones has been named as the new CEO of the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA and The Suder Foundation. Maurice is the former CEO of OneTen and founder of MJConnects.
Justin Draeger has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Affordability at Strada Education Foundation. He currently serves as President and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
NEW! Director of School Quality with the Colorado League of Charter Schools, Hybrid-Denver, CO
NEW! Director of Accounting with the Colorado League of Charter Schools, Hybrid-Denver, CO
NEW! Budget and Policy Analyst with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, Hybrid-Denver, CO
NEW! Postsecondary and Workforce Specialist with the Colorado Department of Education, Remote
NEW! Postsecondary Specialist with the Colorado Department of Education, Remote
NEW! Research Associate with the Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI), Hybrid-Washington, D.C.
NEW! Senior Research Associate with the Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI), Hybrid-Washington, D.C.