Bumphus named to president’s apprenticeship task force

Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, will serve on the President’s Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion.The task force — which represent companies, trade andindustry groups, educational institutions and labor unions —has substantial workforce development experience inaddressing the nation’s skills gap, U.S. Labor SecretaryAlexander Acosta said in a press release.“Expanding apprenticeships will help Americans learn the skills they need to æll jobsthat are open right now and in the future,” he said. “The members of the Task Forceon Apprenticeship Expansion will provide varied perspectives that will help guide theadministration’s strategy on growing apprenticeship programs nationwide.”In June, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to expandapprenticeships as part of a national job education and training effort. Acostaemphasized the importance of apprenticeships when he spoke in August at the AACCboard of directors’ summer retreat in Washington, D.C.The task force is chaired by Acosta, with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos andCommerce Secretary Wilbur Ross serving as vice chairs.“Apprenticeships have the potential to offer America’s students the hands-oneducation needed for today’s in-demand jobs, and expanding these opportunities willprepare them for success in the 21st century economy,” DeVos said in a statement.Other member of the group include: Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow ChemicalCompany; Joshua Bolten, president of the Business Roundtable; South Dakota Gov.Dennis Daugaard and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds; and actor and workforce trainingadvocate John Ratzenberger, among others.