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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 1999

News Release

NEA Leads the Charge in Shaping a 21st Century Workforce

Roger Knutsen Named to White House Taskforce on a 21st Century Workforce

Washington, D.C. -- The National Education Association (NEA) is providing the leadership to shape a workforce for the 21st Century. President Clinton has named NEA higher education leader Roger Knutsen to the White House 21st Century Workforce Commission -- a team of leaders from around the nation who will develop strategies to help produce a workforce prepared to succeed in the 21st Century.

"Change in America's workforce is moving at a breakneck speed," said NEA President Bob Chase. "The rapid pace of information, global marketplace, and technology-driven economy require more of the workforce than ever. As the nation's largest association of higher education staff, this initiative will keep NEA members on the forward edge of education, preparing students to achieve."

Knutsen is president of NEA's National Council for Higher Education and a faculty member at Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington. He has pioneered efforts to help his fellow faculty and staff use technology through workshops and other forums. He has also taught courses in chemistry and microcomputer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets and desktop publishing. The past two years he has been authoring online courses for the College's Water/Wastewater program.

Knutsen has a keen ability to harness the value of technology in new and inventive ways, putting it to use in coursework not normally associated with technology, such as the arts. Chase called Knutsen a true visionary, sparking innovation in his own work with students and faculty in Washington state, and infusing higher education faculty nationwide with new approaches to teaching and learning through his leadership in NEA.

Knutsen identifies five key ingredients for preparing students for the future:

• A hearty embrace of the future--students should gain confidence in their ability to adapt to changes in the workplace and embrace a course of lifelong learning. Change should be invigorating and anticipated, not feared.

• A work in progress--a diploma and degree provide the tools for continued refinement of skills, it is by no means a certificate of a finished product.

• Teamwork--today's student should thrive in a cooperative work environment and know how to think and work in teams.

• Technological proficiency--students should be proficient in using the latest technologies and cultivate the capacity to refine and update those skills.

• Investments in the future--preparing citizens for tomorrow's workforce requires significant investments today. The business world devotes enormous resources to technology, but by comparison, colleges and university have meager resources.

Knutsen said he will use these key ingredients as a guide in his work on the commission. "The workers of tomorrow need more than a job. They need an enriching career and tools to help them navigate constant change," said Knutsen.

Congress and the White House charged the commission with conducting a thorough study of "all matters relating to the information technology workforce in the United States." According to the legislative language authorizing the commission "More individuals will gain the skills necessary to enter into a technology-based job market, ensuring that the United States remains the world leader in the information technology industry." The commission includes membership from state and local government, business, and education. The President, the Senate Majority Leader and the House Speaker appointed the members.

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