Tampa Bay Higher Education Alliance (TBHEA) is a professional association of regionally accredited schools in the Tampa Bay region consisting of Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties. Regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission ensures that the institution of higher education meets quality standards. Status is granted by one of the six U.S. regional accrediting bodies within the Higher Learning Commission.
The purpose of TBHEA is to serve as an education, training, and community resource to corporate, non-profit institutions and governmental agencies. Our goal is to bridge the skills gap between workforce needs and current capabilities. One school may not meet the needs of every individual. By coming together and offering multiple options, TBHEA helps organizations compare and identify the best choice to meet their education and training goals.
CURRENT REGIONAL LANDSCAPE
Growth and technology are the common denominators driving education and training requirements in the region. The technology, medical, hospitality, transportation, hotel, travel, and other industries are being transformed by rapidly developing post digital era advancements such as artificial intelligence, globalization of the workforce, and a young mobile workforce. Migration to the region is being augmented by business relocations, geographic preferences, retirements, and the general attractiveness of the region. Expansion of the commuter and housing infrastructure to feed the growing employment core is driving housing and transportation growth in the less dense county regions.
The regional landscape is changing the education and skills required to support the current and future requirements of the developing economic clusters.
CHANGING EDUCATION AND TRAINING ENVIRONMENT
Nearly every educational and training facet requires credentials due to the rapidly changing regional environment. The core thread through all institutions is the need for students to have credentials prior to, in transition into, and upon entry into the business, NFP, and community organizations. Credentials are defined as certificates, certifications, and internships.
All regional schools have experimented with new delivery modalities since March of 2020 because of the 2020-2021 pandemic. The virtual modality had always been used on a relatively minor scale, but its use was greatly expanded over the pandemic period. The accelerated use of remote work during and post pandemic drives the expansion and institutionalization of virtual education.
TBHEA focuses on community college, four-year college, and university level education and training needs.
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) is the only community college currently supporting the TBHEA and provides both associate degrees and training certificates and certifications. HCC is a significant engine for the skilled trades, associate degree opportunities, and university transfer students. Major commercial construction efforts and a rapidly expanding housing market drive demand for skilled trades across the region.
Pasco Hernando State College, St. Petersburg State College, Florida Southern College, Rasmussen College, Utica College, Galen College, and Polk State College, provide a wide variety of education degrees and training credentials and form the cornerstones of the TBHEA regional college cadre’.
The TBHEA university level members provide certificates, certifications, bachelor’s degrees, and advanced/graduate degrees. Our universities supply the largest contingencies of interns through formal processes. There are efforts under way to increase internships to bolster the tech industry and hospitality management industries. Universities are the main source of graduate nursing, technology, and business talent that are needed by all aspects of the community.
TBHEA SERVICES
Education fairs have been the mainstay of community support conducted by member schools and the TBHEA. Education fairs are designed to answer questions concerning attending schools and to help organizational members reach out for admission into a member college. Education fairs can be very broad in nature or focused. One or any number of schools can be invited to conduct an education fair where any and all programs can be offered. Focused fairs could be for a narrow range of programs such as technology programs, nursing programs, or business programs. Only schools that offer the focused programs would participate in a focused fair. TBHEA and Tampa Bay Tech held a co-sponsored virtual fair technology focused education fair in the first half of 2021.
TBHEA supports special events and forums either on its own volition or as requested by organizations. TBHEA has been exhibiting at the Hillsborough County Hotel Motel Association major events since 2020.
TBHEA has reached out to Career Source and the LEAP organization exploring working relationships to support their missions.
We are also available for public speaking events that support the mission and outreach of the TBHEA.
CONTACT US
Please reach out to directors@TBHEA.org to arrange educational fairs, event support, or general information.
