The 2013 legislative session will be important for higher education including Riverland Community College and the other 30 institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. This legislative session comes when our region faces a vexing challenge: many employers in industries such as manufacturing, truck driving, and health care, are in dire need for workers with both strong technical and foundational skills. The painful reality is job openings exist, but many of the 174,000 unemployed Minnesotans lack the education needed for the new economy. We also see projections that show 70 percent of the jobs in Minnesota will require a post-secondary credential by 2018. If left unaddressed, this “skills gap” will take a tremendous toll on individuals, families, employers, and the state’s economy.

Unfortunately, we face significant obstacles in meeting this challenge. We ask for your support of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities request.