25:3184507E-77FA-4265-AB80-5665AB53712F10260HPATHWAYS FOR ACADEMIC CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT ACT260H.1Title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Pathways for Academic Career and Employment Act”.2011 Acts, ch 132, §71, 106260H.2Pathways for academic career and employment program fund.1A pathways for academic career and employment program is established to provide funding to community colleges for the development of projects in coordination with the economic development authority, the department of education, the department of workforce development, local workforce development boards established pursuant to section 84A.4, and community partners to implement a simplified, streamlined, and comprehensive process, along with customized support services, to enable eligible participants to acquire effective academic and employment training to secure gainful, quality, in-state employment.2aA pathways for academic career and employment fund is created for the community colleges in the state treasury to be administered by the department of education and the department of workforce development. The moneys in the pathways for academic career and employment fund are appropriated to the department of education for the pathways for academic career and employment program.bThe aggregate total of grants awarded from the pathways for academic career and employment fund during a fiscal year shall not be more than five million dollars.cMoneys in the fund shall be allocated pursuant to the formula established in section 260C.18C. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state but shall remain available for expenditure for the purpose designated for subsequent fiscal years. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.2011 Acts, ch 118, §87, 89; 2011 Acts, ch 132, §72, 106; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §36; 2013 Acts, ch 141, §42; 2016 Acts, ch 1118, §16, 21; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2194260H.3Eligibility criteria.1Projects eligible for funding for the pathways for academic career and employment program shall be projects that further the ability of members of target populations to secure gainful, quality employment. For the purposes of this chapter, “target population” includes:aPersons deemed low skilled for the purposes of attaining gainful, quality, in-state employment.bPersons earning incomes at or below two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level as defined by the most recently revised poverty income guidelines published by the United States department of health and human services.cUnemployed persons.dUnderemployed persons.eDislocated workers, including workers eligible for services and benefits under the federal Trade Adjustment Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-210, as determined by the department of workforce development and the federal internal revenue service.2Projects eligible for funding for the pathways for academic career and employment program shall be projects that further partnerships that link the community colleges to industry and nonprofit organizations and projects that further program outcomes as provided in section 260H.4.2011 Acts, ch 132, §73, 106; 2013 Acts, ch 141, §43260H.4Program outcomes.Projects eligible for funding for the pathways for academic career and employment program shall be programs which further the following program outcomes:1Enabling the target populations to:aAcquire and demonstrate competency in basic skills.bAcquire and demonstrate competency in a specified technical field.cComplete a specified level of postsecondary education.dEarn a national career readiness certificate.eObtain employer-validated credentials.fSecure gainful employment in high-quality, local jobs.2Satisfaction of economic and employment goals including but not limited to:aEconomic and workforce development requirements in each region served by the community colleges as defined by local workforce development boards established pursuant to section 84A.4.bNeeds of industry partners in areas including but not limited to:1Information technology.2Health care.3Advanced manufacturing.4Transportation and logistics.5Any other industry designated as in-demand by a local workforce development board established pursuant to section 84A.4.2011 Acts, ch 132, §74, 106; 2013 Acts, ch 141, §44, 45; 2016 Acts, ch 1118, §17, 18, 21260H.5Program component requirements.Program components of a pathways for academic career and employment project implemented at a community college shall:1Include measurable and effective recruitment, assessment, and referral activities designed for the target populations.2Integrate basics skills and work-readiness training with occupational skills training.3Combine customized supportive and case management services with training services to help participants overcome barriers to employment.4Provide training services at times, locations, and through multiple, flexible modalities that are easily understood and readily accessible to the target populations. Such modalities shall support timeless entry, individualized learning, and flexible scheduling, and may include online remediation, learning lab and cohort learning communities, tutoring, and modularization.2011 Acts, ch 132, §75, 106260H.6Pipeline program.Each community college receiving funding for the pathways for academic career and employment program shall develop a pipeline program in order to better serve the academic, training, and employment needs of the target populations. A pipeline program shall have the following goals:1To strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations and industry representatives.2To improve and simplify the identification, recruitment, and assessment of qualified participants.3To conduct and manage an outreach, recruitment, and intake process, along with accompanying support services, reflecting sensitivity to the time and financial constraints and remediation needs of the target populations.4To conduct orientations for qualified participants to describe regional labor market opportunities, employer partners, and program requirements and expectations.5To describe the concepts of the project implemented with funds from the pathways for academic career and employment program and the embedded educational and support resources available through such project.6To outline the basic skills participants will learn and describe the credentials participants will earn.7To describe success milestones and ways in which temporal and instructional barriers have been minimized or eliminated.8To review how individualized and customized service strategies for participants will be developed and provided.2011 Acts, ch 132, §76, 106260H.7Career pathways and bridge curriculum development program.Each community college receiving funding for the pathways for academic career and employment program shall develop a career pathways and bridge curriculum development program in order to better serve the academic, training, and employment needs of the target populations. A career pathways and bridge curriculum development program shall have the following goals:1The articulation of courses and modules, the mapping of programs within career pathways, and establishment of bridges between credit and noncredit programs. 2The integration and contextualization of basic skills education and skills training. This process shall provide for seamless progressions between adult basic education and general education development programs and continuing education and credit certificate, diploma, and degree programs.3The development of career pathways that support the attainment of industry-recognized credentials, diplomas, and degrees through stackable, modularized program delivery.2011 Acts, ch 132, §77, 106260H.7APathway navigators.1A community college may use moneys for the pathways for academic career and employment program to employ pathway navigators to assist students applying for or enrolled in eligible pathways for academic career and employment projects.2Pathway navigators shall provide services and support to aid students in selecting pathways for academic career and employment projects that will result in gainful, quality, in-state employment and to ensuring students are successful once enrolled in pathways for academic career and employment projects. Services the pathway navigators may provide include but are not limited to the following:aInterviewing and selecting students for enrollment in pathways for academic career and employment projects.bAssessing students’ skills, interests, and previous academic and work experience for purposes of placement in pathways for academic career and employment projects.cWorking with students to develop academic and career plans and to adjust such plans as needed.dAssisting students in applying for and receiving resources for financial aid and other forms of tuition assistance.eAssisting students with the admissions process, remedial education, academic credit transfer, meeting assessment requirements, course registration, and other procedures necessary for successful completion of pathways for academic career and employment projects.fAssisting in identifying and resolving obstacles to students’ successful completion of pathways for academic career and employment projects.gConnecting students with useful college resources or outside support services such as access to child care, transportation, and tutorial assistance, as needed.hMaintaining ongoing contact with students enrolled in pathways for academic career and employment projects and ensuring students are making satisfactory progress toward the successful completion of projects.iProviding support to students transitioning from remedial education, short-term training, and classroom experience to employment.jCoordinating activities with community-based organizations that serve as key recruiters for pathways for academic career and employment projects and assisting students throughout the recruitment process.kCoordinating adult basic education services. 2013 Acts, ch 141, §46260H.7BRegional industry sector partnerships.Transferred to §84A.15; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2197.260H.8Rules.The department of education, in consultation with the community colleges, the economic development authority, and the department of workforce development, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this chapter. Local workforce development boards established pursuant to section 84A.4 shall be consulted in the development and implementation of rules adopted pursuant to this section.2011 Acts, ch 118, §87, 89; 2011 Acts, ch 132, §78, 106; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §37; 2016 Acts, ch 1118, §19, 21; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2196