A Career-Ready Movement: The Curriculum Model That's Changing Lives in Alabama

Brandi Merrill, Director of Curriculum Design and Julie Frizzell, Chief of Operations, Alabama Community College System

Brandi Merrill, Director of Curriculum Design and Julie Frizzell, Chief of Operations, Alabama Community College System

At the Alabama Community College System's Innovation Center, we’re transforming workforce training—making it modern, mobile, and meaningful. Through Skills for Success courses, our Colleges are redefining how career-driven learners engage with education by offering short, highimpact training built for real life and real jobs. These aren’t just online modules—they’re skill-boosting experiences designed to launch learners into Alabama’s most in-demand careers.

Unlocking the Potential of Career-Driven Learners

Career-driven learners are juggling jobs, families, and countless responsibilities. Our approach offers a more flexible, efficient path. We’re preparing Alabama’s next-generation workforce—those entering their first jobs, switching careers, or reentering with new purpose. They need training that’s fast, relevant, and confidence-building from the first module. That’s where we come in.

Our Approach: Fun Meets Functional

Each course follows a hybrid model: a 20–25 hour gamified, online experience followed by hands-on labs at one of Alabama’s 24 community colleges. Content reflects real Alabama communities, job scenarios, and employer expectations.

Courses are developed by industry, for industry— through close collaboration with Subject Matter Experts and Task Forces made up of working professionals. Their insights ensure our training reflects current tools, practices, and job realities.

“Skills for success isn’t just a program—it’s a statewide solution, empowering our colleges to respond quickly to workforce needs”

“Curriculum isn’t just content—it’s strategy. Every Skills for Success course is built to reflect what real employers need and what real learners deserve. It’s hands-on, relevant, and built to launch careers—not just check boxes.” — Brandi Merrill, Director of Curriculum Design, ACCS Innovation Center

Once created, courses are delivered through our 24 community colleges. Participants are college students learning locally, gaining skills that serve their home communities and meet statewide standards.

• Voiceovers sound like your neighbor—because they are.

• Video modules look like your town—because we film on location.

• Quick challenges feel more like games than exams.

Real employers and workers don’t just inform our training—they star in it. Learners don’t just hear about the job—they see it, from those doing it. And it’s working.

Making It Matter: Why Engagement is Everything

We meet learners where they are—at home on a laptop, on break with a phone, or at a public computer. Our courses work on any device, anytime.

We use digital tools to create interactive content—drag-and-drop tasks, real-world scenarios, and progress tracking that keep learners motivated. Courses are consistent across platforms, enabling statewide delivery with ease.

But more than tech, it’s about experiences. Through visual storytelling and simulations, we design content that reflects real workplaces. Every element—from tone to learner flow—supports confidence and job readiness.

• Microlearning: Short, focused lessons that build momentum.

• Interactives: Clickable graphics and decision-based tasks create hands-on learning.

• Scenarios: Real job situations reinforce relevance and understanding.

• Feedback: Badges, checkpoints, and trackers provide motivation and progress.

When learners interact with content in a low-pressure setting, they build confidence for high-stakes roles. Every click and challenge is crafted to matter—because engagement drives success.

The Results: Training with Real-World Impact

Since launch, over 41,000 Alabamians have enrolled in Skills for Success courses, with more than half completing their training. These aren’t just metrics—they represent real people gaining real skills.

Graduates include heavy equipment operators—such as skid steer, bulldozer, asphalt roller, and excavator operators—plus community and mental health workers, CDL drivers, hotel staff, customer service professionals, ambulance operators, and land survey technicians. Each walks into the job with more than a certificate—they arrive confident, capable, and ready to contribute.

Employers are noticing. Many say these learners outperform 30-day hires. Some colleges report students being offered jobs before completing training and companies are actively requesting more graduates from our programs.

“Skills for Success isn’t just a program—it’s a statewide solution. We’ve created a delivery model that makes high-quality training available in every corner of Alabama, empowering our colleges to respond quickly to workforce needs in their communities.” — Julie Frizzell, Chief of Operations, ACCS Innovation Center

Across Alabama, industries from construction and hospitality to healthcare and logistics are relying on these graduates to fill high-demand roles. These learners are showing up equipped—with the skills, safety awareness, and confidence to make an impact on day one.

This is more than a course. It’s a pipeline of prepared, career-ready talent powering Alabama’s economy.

Contributor Note:

Brandi Merrill is the Director of Curriculum Design at the ACCS Innovation Center, where she leads a team focused on building cutting-edge workforce training aligned with industry needs.

Julie Frizzell serves as Chief of Operations at the ACCS Innovation Center, overseeing strategic implementation and partnerships that connect communities and Colleges across Alabama.

Launched in 2022, the Alabama Community College System’s Innovation Center creates rapid, industry-driven training through its Skills for Success initiative. The Center collaborates with all 24 Alabama community colleges to deliver flexible, no-cost training that prepares Alabamians for in-demand careers—supporting over 41,000 learners and growing.