Now that the automotive market has stabilized, automakers and suppliers have regained their focus on future human resource needs. The products themselves and the processes used to make them are changing at a rapid pace, which means it is difficult for educators and workforce development professionals to stay abreast of the technological changes and to understand and incorporate the impact of those changes on skill needs, both for new graduates and incumbent workers alike. The grant renewal of the Program for Automotive Labor and Education uniquely positions the Center for Automotive Research to bridge this gap through its industry-driven, research-based approach to supporting a network of corporate, labor, education, training, workforce development, and government leaders.

This grant will support Mott Community College's enrollment in Achieving the Dream. Achieving the Dream, started by the Lumina Foundation, is a process dedicated to making the student success agenda a priority at community colleges and with state and national policymakers and stakeholders. To create and implement student success strategies, Achieving the Dream provides on-campus coaching with faculty, staff, and leadership; assistance with data collection and analysis; access to information on innovative and successful practices; networking opportunities and resources to address barriers; and guidance on engaging the college and community in supporting student success.

This grant will allow the Aspen Institute to continue to conduct research on innovation that represents a potential solution to the challenge of sustainability for domestic microenterprise programs-a new business model in which microenterprise programming is embedded within a university setting and uses volunteer student resources that significantly lower the cost of service delivery.