Blue Ridge Partnership

ORGANIZATION PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND GOALS

PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION:

Our Partnership's mission is to foster widespread collaboration between businesses and education, leveraging existing resources to align curricula and training with the current needs and future growth strategies of Life Sciences & Health (L S & H) employers through trans-disciplinary innovation. Our aim is to enhance job readiness, placement, and support economic development. We envision a collaborative development and scaling up of education-to-employment pathways within the Life Sciences & Health industry. By equipping students (both youth and adults) with education, skills, and workplace experience, we strive to create seamless transitions into promising careers within GO Virginia Region 2, and secondarily, across the Commonwealth. Guided by our core values of collaboration, innovation, impact, inclusivity, responsiveness, and empowerment, we are dedicated to empowering individuals, enriching the region's workforce, and contributing to the overall growth and success of the Life Sciences & Health sector.

GOAL(S):

Workforce Development: Align and raise the rigor of health and life science education to meet the needs of employers and industry standards.

Awareness and Value: Increase knowledge and awareness of the existence and value of health and life science professionals among stakeholders.

Policy Education: Educate policy/lawmakers, stakeholders, and legislative committees on the challenges faced by the health and life science workforce.

Recruitment and Retention: Identify 5-10 workforce recruitment and retention strategies to increase the health and life science workforce.

Regional Workforce Improvement: Implement strategies to improve the health and life sciences workforce in Go Virginia Region 2.

DELIVERABLE(S):

Align and raise the rigor of health and life science education to meet employer needs and industry standards.

Increase knowledge and awareness of the existence and value of health and life science professionals among stakeholders.

Educate policy/lawmakers, stakeholders, or legislative committees on the challenges faced by the health and life science workforce.

Identify and present workforce recruitment and retention strategies to increase the health and life science workforce.

Implement strategies to improve the health and life sciences workforce in Go Virginia Region 2.

BOARD STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

BOARD MEMBERS:

There shall be no fewer than 3 and no more than 25 members. Members shall consist of representatives from K-12 districts, community colleges, four-year colleges/universities, higher education centers, health and life science employers, relevant community partners delivering training or co-curricular programming, economic development professionals, and philanthropic organizations that support the health and life sciences industry sector. 

See BRPHSC Articles of Incorporation and By-laws for more detail.

REPORTING HIERARCHY:

The Board shall receive reports quarterly from the Committees.  Board members shall share progress reports and relevant information with their respective organizations in furtherance of the mission of the BRPHSC. 

TERM LENGTH:

Board members serve a term of 3 years.

MEETING CADENCE:

Quarterly or at least three times per year.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOARD MEMBERS:

Attend meetings and advocate on behalf of the BRPHSC in furtherance of its collective goals.

Identify new committee members and new board members.

Primary duties:

• Review and approval of recommended priorities and performance metrics from each committee
• Ensure adherence to stated performance metrics and recommend necessary adjustments
• Affirm or revise career path priorities
• Review the initiative's financial position to leverage resources
• Make program adjustments as needed
• Exchange information regarding health workforce activities across the Commonwealth.