Workforce Board Certification

The UT CIS Workforce Board Certification Program is a structured approach for Workforce Boards that:

  • Establishes consistency, professional practice and ethical standards
  • Outlines an accepted body of knowledge for state and local boards
  • Provides targeted opportunities for professional development of board members
  • Formally certifies adherence to best practices

More specifically, the UT CIS Workforce Board Certification Program is an assessment-based program that supports high performing boards by identifying strengths, opportunities for improvement, professional development options and best practices.  The certification assessment is customized to the primary responsibility of the Boards, for example, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

  • The certification assessment evaluates the policies, procedures, and performance of a workforce development board against two sets of criteria.  The first is our nation’s highest standard for excellence, the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, produced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, under the US Department of Commerce.  The second is the requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

  • Strengths identified as part of the Board Certification process are potential strategic advantages for the Board and can be capitalized on to create new opportunities to assist adults, dislocated workers, youth, employers, and more.

  • Opportunities for Improvement identified as part of the Board Certification process are potential innovation opportunities that can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of how the Board meets the needs of adults, dislocated workers, youth, and employers now and in the future.

     

What are the benefits of Workforce Board Certification? 

  • Formal recognition of achievement of Board Certification 
  • Creates systematic processes & essential skills
  • Demonstrates credibility & commitment to excellence
  • Ensures legal responsibilities of the boards are integrated into board operations
  • Promotes accountability
  • Recognizes competence and expertise 
  • Prepares board for possible new grant funding opportunities
  • Establishes a model for committees, operations, and individuals that execute Board decisions

  • Identifies and prioritizes areas for improvement or innovation 

Contact Tamera Parsons, UT CIS Board Certification Program Director, for more information at tamera.parsons@tennessee.edu.