Tennessee Community College Industry Partnerships Drive Workforce Development Across State
A groundbreaking partnership between Pellissippi State Community College and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) exemplifies how the Tennessee’s 13 community colleges are meeting critical workforce needs through innovative industry collaborations.
The Chemical Radiation Technology pathway at Pellissippi State, launched last year, is already showing success with its first three graduates preparing for December commencement. The program, designed to address a national shortage of skilled technicians in the radiochemistry industry, combines specialized coursework with hands-on laboratory experience.
"There's been a national call to get more students within the nuclear field," said Leslie Adamczyk, Pellissippi State professor and program coordinator. "Our students can get a two-year degree and possibly go on to work at a national lab, with opportunities for further education if they choose."
This collaboration mirrors similar partnerships across the state's community college system, where colleges work closely with regional employers to develop targeted academic programs and workforce solutions. These partnerships range from advanced manufacturing programs in West Tennessee to healthcare initiatives in East Tennessee.
"Pellissippi State was a good partner that was very willing to help us fill that gap," said Jeremy Busby, associate laboratory director for Isotope Science and Engineering at ORNL. "We're looking for a long-term pipeline for this skill set, not only for ORNL but other places around the country that are in desperate need."
The program's success is evident in its first cohort. Two students, Jon Rowland and Jared Dowell, recently completed paid internships at ORNL and were featured in "Nuclear News" magazine. Their experience included working with hot cell manipulators and networking with industry professionals.
Across the state, similar success stories emerge from other community colleges' industry partnerships. These collaborations have resulted in excellent job placement rates, with many students securing positions before graduation.
Jimmy Selph, a waste-services representative at ORNL who helped develop the pathway's curriculum, emphasized the competitive nature of these opportunities. "Between our classes and their internship, they've got a really big head start on being a part of that resource pipeline," he said.
The community college system's focus on industry partnerships is a vital strategy for addressing workforce challenges and adapting to technological advancements. Each community college maintains industry-focused advisory boards to ensure its curriculum remains relevant and aligned with employers' needs. This strategy, along with developing collaborative and targeted academic programs for local industry, is clearly creating a direct pipeline of skilled professionals ready to meet the demands of Tennessee's workforce.
The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology and the online TN eCampus serving approximately 140,000 students. The system is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.