MEETING THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF OUR AREA

Message from Jeanine Gangeness, GRAUC Board Chair

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as GRAUC Chair for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. For over seven years I have been a member of GRAUC, and I am grateful to the members, their expertise, and the collaborative spirit of the organization. Connections between businesses and higher education, promoting education opportunities and advocating for exceptional education opportunities is central to our work together.

Higher education continues to serve Rochester, provide high quality employees, and adapt to the changing environment. The future of Rochester businesses and economic growth is aligned with how successful higher education is in the community. Ensuring that legacy education programming and new programming are possible will require that we continue to dialogue between employers and higher education leaders. This year we will continue to seek funding for the Health Simulation Lab as this community asset will serve legacy programs like health professionals, including nurses.

Let us find time to:

·        Address new ways to educate our next generation of employees,

·        Engage intentionally with all populations in Rochester,

·        Welcome new voices to provide insights, and

·        Discuss implementation of innovative approaches to education

I am looking forward to a meaningful year with GRAUC. Chairing the organization will be an honor and collaborating with you will be my pleasure. Together, we can explore ways to address our current and future workforce and higher education needs. I am looking forward to collaborating and learning with each of you this year.

Thank you for your dedication to Rochester, higher education, the business community, and GRAUC.

Deeply grateful,

Jeanine E. Gangeness, PhD

Our mission is:

GRAUC will meet the workforce needs of our region.

 And to achieve this GRAUC:

·         ADVOCATES for quality post-secondary educational programs and outcomes.

·         PROMOTES post-secondary educational opportunities for students to best serve business, education      and the region.

·         CONNECTS post-secondary education with business and industry to further their mutual success.