Advisory Councils & Partnerships
At Valencia College, one of our most important missions is to provide career programs that respond to the defined needs of the community. What are the employers and industries in Central Florida looking for and what kind of workers do they want to hire? To help answer these questions, Valencia College has formed advisory councils for all our Associate in Science (A.S.) degree programs.
Advisory councils play a crucial role in assisting the college in the long-range planning of programs, providing insight into the employment needs in Orange and Osceola Counties and reviewing curriculum for relevance to the changing needs of the community. This relevance is our assurance to the community that graduates will be prepared with the skills they need to be successful in an ever-changing job market.
These advisory councils are made up over 600 business and industry leaders in the community who provide a unique perspective and an informed viewpoint from their field. Our students know that because prospective employers are participating in the development of courses and programs, they will be ready to meet the challenges of their chosen careers. And, because of the input of our advisory council members, our faculty and staff are better able to understand the needs of the occupations for which we prepare students.
Through the involvement of our advisory council members, the college is very active in economic development and strengthening business and industry in Central Florida. advisory councils create a close, cooperative relationship between the college and local businesses, professional organizations, government agencies and the communities we serve.
The significance of the work of advisory councils is in fully engaging the interdependence of economic development and the academic training of a quality workforce. With the expertise of academicians and practitioners, Valencia College strives to ensure our A.S. degree programs are preparing students with the skills that are needed for the "21st Century Workplace".
In an ongoing effort to be responsive to our business community, Valencia College has built relationships to strengthen academic scholarship and economic development. Working with high schools, technical colleges, higher education institutions, and business leaders, Valencia College has hundreds of corporate, education and training partnerships. Some of these relationships include Advent Health and Orlando Health, Orlando Utilities Commission, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Universal and Walt Disney World. Valencia College has been recognized by the National Alliance of Business for its "effective and innovative leadership" in meeting the workforce needs of business and industry.
If you have any questions regarding Valencia College advisory councils, please contact workforceeducation@celdas.net.