By State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper)
Many of the high-demand jobs that exist in today's economy were not around decades ago. Similarly, there are many jobs that will exist years down the road that don't currently exist.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development, one of my duties is to work with my colleagues and stakeholders to ensure public colleges and universities in Indiana are preparing their students for the workforce.
That's why I supported Senate Enrolled Act 448 this year, a new law that aligns postsecondary education with workforce demands.
While Indiana's economy remains strong, this new law works to increase the number of Hoosiers who complete some form of postsecondary education, whether that be college or a certificate program.
Senate Enrolled Act 448 will help Indiana reach this goal through better coordination of educational offerings at our state universities, improved long-term planning for talent development by policymakers and collecting data regarding enrollment and outcomes of programs.
This law also requires the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to work with other state agencies to create a statewide talent development plan and update it every two years.
Earlier this year, the General Assembly allocated nearly $4.2 billion for higher education in the state's current two-year budget.
At 9% of the overall state budget, higher education is a major investment in our state's future, and ensuring Indiana's public colleges and universities are properly preparing Hoosiers for the workforce is vital for future generations to be successful.
As always, constituents can reach out to me with any questions or concerns by email at s48@iga.in.gov or by phone at 1-800-382-9467.
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State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper) represents Senate District 48,
which includes Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
