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Posts Tagged ‘community colleges’

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The Role of STEM Education in the Growing Green Collar Economy

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Community colleges, K-12 schools, institutions of higher education and the federal government are working in a variety of ways to develop career and educational opportunities in STEM fields and the new green economy.  NASDCTEc co-sponsored a luncheon yesterday for Hill staffers entitled “The Role of STEM Education in the Growing ‘Green Collar’ Economy” that addressed these efforts.  The event was a collaboration between sponsors and the STEM Caucus, the CTE Caucus and the Community College Caucus.

Dr. William E. Kirwan, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, was optimistic about the broad consensus in this country and around the world about the impact of climate change.  President Obama’s agenda reflects this as he makes math and science top priorities and focuses on green issues.  However, he is concerned about the pace at which we are moving relative to other G8 nations on climate change; there is a sense of urgency among those nations that the United States is lacking in his opinion.

Dr. Kathleen Schatzberg, President of Cape Cod Community College, stressed that community colleges are vital in providing individuals and employers with green and STEM credentials that are in demand.  Community colleges also work closely with other partners in the community to make sure that their efforts are broad and cost effective.  She signaled out dual enrollment as one effective way of getting students interested in the STEM fields before they enter college.

Dr. Patrick Konopnicki, Director of Technical and Career Education at Virginia Beach City Public Schools, reiterated Dr. Schatzberg’s point that partnerships are key and he urged CTE to partner with their city’s economic development board as he has done in Virginia Beach.  He also pointed out that CTE provides the basis for STEM jobs and as such Gov. Kaine has established the Governor’s Career and Technical Academies which will focus on STEM.  Virginia Beach has also incorporated sustainability into their strategic plan, requiring that students learn sustainability skills.  For example, the district will teach LEED concepts to all juniors in CAD and construction courses beginning this fall.

Deputy Assistant Secretary at OVAE, Glenn Cummings reflected on the federal government’s role in STEM education and green jobs, which includes their investment in community colleges and focus on sustainability.  He also highlighted the University Sustainability Program created by the 2008 Higher Education Act.  That program, which has not been funded, would provide grants to universities and colleges to develop programs and practices related to sustainability.

By admin in Public Policy
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Report: STEM students earn certificates, associate degrees

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

A notable amount of students who earned a degree in a science, technology, engineering or math field did so through a certificate or associate program, according to a recent National Center for Education Statistics report.

The statistics presented in the Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Postsecondary Education report could help underscore the role secondary and postsecondary CTE programs play in national efforts to strengthen the STEM education pipeline.

The study focuses on undergraduate students’ entrance into STEM studies and examines longitudinal data from the 1995-96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, which includes a nationally representative sample of about 12,000 first-time students who enroll in postsecondary education. The students were interviewed in 1998 and 2001 to gather data on their persistence of their education, degree attainment and other information. About 23 percent of those undergraduates enrolled in postsecondary institutions declared their major in a STEM field.

Among those STEM students, about 39 percent attained certificate, and 30 percent attained an associate’s degree in the field. Further, nearly 8 percent of those who earned an associate’s degree moved on to earn a bachelor’s degree in STEM, according to the report.

The findings complement a growing body of data that support the need for programs that prepare students for a competitive workforce bound for a STEM- and skill-focused economy.

By admin in Research
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Working to keep CTE in the Senate version of Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibly Act

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Last Tuesday the House held a markup of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibly Act, so I scheduled a series of meetings with Senate staffers for late last week to make sure they understand the importance of CTE in both education and workforce development and kept CTE provisions in their version of the bill.

The Senate has yet to draft their bill, but staffers indicated that there were going to craft their own bill rather than mirror the House’s language – all the more reason to advocate for CTE to stay in the bill!  If the Senate doesn’t understand CTE’s relevance to the President’s goals of postsecondary education for all and improving our economy, they may not make room for CTE in the bill.  Language for the Senate bill will likely be drafted in August when Congress is in recess.  Because this bill will also be included in budget reconciliation (like in the House) and the Senate has an October 15th deadline for reconciliation, our timeline for advocacy is tight, but we are working hard to communicate that CTE should be a part of the Senate bill.

You can help by contacting your Senator and letting him or her know the importance of CTE in this bill.  Your message is this:

You can reach your Senator’s office through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or you can find their email information at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

If you have any questions or receive any feedback from your Congressional outreach, please contact me at nconneely@careertech.org.

By admin in Legislation
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House Committee Marks Up Community College Bill

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

This morning the House Education and Labor Committee held a mark up of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which includes provisions that encompass the President’s American Graduation Initiative.

At the start of the session, Committee members focused on the community college grants and their connection to strengthening the workforce.   Rep. Hare (IL) pointed out that community colleges are often the only source of workforce training in rural areas, and Rep. Loebsack (IA) mentioned that community colleges are one route to further education.  But not all of the focus was positive.  Rep. Castle (DE) stated that he had mixed feelings about bill because while community college involvement with business is a good thing, the construction funding for those institutions should be a state and local, not federal, responsibility.

Congressmen on the committee were also given the opportunity to offer amendments to the bill, many of which related to the student financial aid elements of the bill, but some affected the community college portions.  Rep. Woolsey (CA) offered an amendment that would require the Education Department to give priority to grant applications under Title V that focus on low-income and non-traditional students.  Rep. Loebsack offered an amendment that would give priority to grant applications that incorporate sector partnerships, which are essential in addressing labor market needs and bringing community colleges and industry together.  In a related amendment, Rep. Polis (CO) proposed adding an activity to the use of funds in Section 503 of Title V that allows eligible entities to use funds to respond to regional market trends.

The Committee passed the bill in a vote of 30-17, and it has been referred to the House Budget Committee.   The Senate is expected to take up the bill after the August recess.

By admin in Legislation
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Potential New Federal Funding for CTE – Contact Your Representatives Today!

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

rhobBACKGROUND:

H.R. 3211, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act is being voted on by the House Education and Labor Committee on Tuesday. If passed into law, this bill would provide the largest infusion of new funding for CTE and community colleges in many years. The President and the Congress are shining the spotlight on CTE and skills training with this legislation which the president initially unveiled earlier this week during a visit to a community college in Michigan. This bill is a tremendous opportunity for us to let Congress know that you support the funding available to CTE! You can find a brief summary of the legislation here.

There are many constituencies affected by the bill that will be mobilized to act to ensure that their programs are funded. Act now to ensure that CTE retains its share of the funding!

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE TO COMMUNICATE?

Please call your Representative and ask to speak to their aid who handles education issues. Your message is straightforward:

• I am calling about H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.

• I support the provisions that provide grant support to community colleges and area career technical schools in Title V which will allow these institutions to provide students access to high quality education and training.

• I also support the provisions in Title III which provide financial support for facilities modernization, renovation and repair at community colleges, K-12 schools, and area technical schools.

HOW DO YOU FIND WHO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES CONTACT INFORMATION?

You can find out who your House of Representatives member is by going to this link:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

You can reach your Representative’s office through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

Normally we would encourage you to send email messages, but because the House Education and Labor Committee is voting on this bill on Tuesday July 21, time is of the essence. If your member serves on the Education and Labor Committee, your input is especially important. A listing of those members can be found at: http://edworkforce.house.gov/about/members/.

If you have any questions or receive any feedback from your Congressional outreach, please contact NASDCTEc’s Public Policy Manager Nancy Conneely at nconneely@careertech.org.

Thank you for your advocacy efforts.

By admin in Legislation, Public Policy
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Oates and Kanter testify at WIA hearing

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

The Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing this morning focused on modernizing the Workforce Investment Act.  As a sign that the subcommittee wants to better coordinate the workforce system with education, both Jane Oates, the Assistant Secretary for ETA at the Department of Labor, and Martha Kanter, the Under Secretary of Education, testified on the first panel of witnesses.   Both Oates and Kanter stressed that the workforce system and education must work together to improve training and job prospects for today’s workers and students.  Their Departments have been working together on joint issues and plan to continue this collaboration.  More specifically, they want to work on integrating literacy and remedial education with skills training.  As for how Congress can better align the work of these two agencies, Oates suggested common performance measures that cut across both Labor and Education, while Kanter advocated for integrated data systems.

When asked about the President’s vision for the workforce system, Kanter stated that his community college initiative will help create the most competitive and highly educated workforce in the world through an increase in the number of degrees completed and credentials obtained.  She pointed out that these credentials may be completed at community colleges, CBOs, or through industry.  Oates described the President’s vision as a multi-pronged approach of which WIA and the community college initiative are two important pieces.

At the end of the panel, Senator Patty Murray (WA) asked how each of their agencies define “post-secondary education” in light of the President’s call for every American to get at least one year of post-secondary education.  Kanter said that the Department of Education views it broadly as “advanced training after high school”, including industry certifications.  Oates said that the Department of Labor sees credentials as a step towards an Associates or Bachelors degree.

By admin in Legislation
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Obama proposes $12 billion down payment toward community college reform

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

President Obama unveiled July 14 his $12 billion plan to increase the number of college graduates through a multi-faceted investment focused on the improvement and expansion of community colleges.
To a crowd at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan Obama outlined his American Graduation Initiative, calling it “the most significant down payment” his administration has made thus far toward his goal of graduating 5 million more community college students with degrees or certifications by 2020. The program is a key component of Obama’s multi-faceted strategy to rebuild the nation’s economy.
Obama announced his proposal just a day after the Council of Economic Advisors released a report describing an expected shift toward jobs that require workers with greater analytical and interactive skills, underscoring the need for some type of postsecondary education to remain competitive.
The American Graduation Initiative includes $2.5 billion for construction and renovation at the nation’s community colleges, $500 million to develop new online courses and $9 billion for “challenge grants” aimed at spurring innovation at the colleges. The programs will be paid by “ending the wasteful subsidies we currently provide to banks and private lenders for student loans, which will save tens of billions of dollars over the next 10 years.”
Obama’s plan aims to build on the strengths of community colleges through programs that:
•Create a Community College Challenge Fund: Competitive grants to enable community colleges and states to innovate and expand proven reforms. Community colleges would be encouraged to collaborate with businesses; offer dual enrollment courses in high schools and universities; and improve remedial and adult education programs.
•Fund Innovative Strategies to Promote College Completion: The College Access and Completion Fund would finance the innovation, evaluation, and expansion of efforts to increase college graduation rates and close achievement gaps, including those at community colleges.
•Modernize Community College Facilities: Invest $2.5 billion to catalyze $10 billion in community college facility investments that will expand the colleges’ ability to meet employer and student needs.
•Create a New Online Skills Laboratory: The Departments of Defense, Education, and Labor would be charged to make online courses available through one or more community colleges and the Defense Department’s distributed learning network, explore ways to award academic credit based upon achievement rather than class hours, and rigorously evaluate the results.

By admin in Public Policy
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Obama says community colleges can help rebuild economy

Monday, July 13th, 2009

In an editorial published in the Washington Post July 12, President Barack Obama said community colleges can help build a new foundation for the nation’s recovering economy.
Setting the stage for talks later this week about his goals to train individuals for a competitive and ever-evolving economy, Obama said community colleges will be instrumental in rebuilding the nation’s workforce. His assertions underscore the continued growth community colleges will likely experience as individuals seek re-training opportunities, economic hardships deter more students from four-year institutions and the economy increases demand for workers with some postsecondary experience.
“We believe it’s time to reform our community colleges so that they provide Americans of all ages a chance to learn the skills and knowledge necessary to compete for the jobs of the future,” Obama said. “Our community colleges can serve as 21st-century job training centers, working with local businesses to help workers learn the skills they need to fill the jobs of the future.”
To reach this goal, Obama proposed to reallocate funding to help community colleges modernize facilities and increase the quality of online courses. In turn, he said he believes such investments would poise the nation to meet the objective of graduating 5 million more individuals from community colleges by 2020.
“Providing all Americans with the skills they need to compete is a pillar of a stronger economic foundation, and, like health care or energy, we cannot wait to make the necessary changes. We must continue to clean up the wreckage of this recession, but it is time to rebuild something better in its place,” Obama said.

By admin in Public Policy
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Shape of Obama “job training, vocational education and community college” Plan Emerging

Monday, June 29th, 2009

You will recall that earlier this year President Obama mentioned that he was undertaking a “fundamental rethinking of our job training, vocational education, and community college programs”.  Earlier this month, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel reinforced this idea, noting that there would soon be a “major announcement”. 

While an announcement has not been officially made, details of a draft plan have emerged.  A story reported by Inside Higher Ed on June 29 focuses on four major elements of the draft.  The following description of what the draft includes is taken from the Inside Higher Ed article.  If you would like to read the entire article you can go to http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/29/ccplan

Online classes:  “According to the draft materials from the administration, the program would support the development of 20-25 “high quality” courses a year, with a mix of high school and community college courses. Initial preference would go to “career oriented” courses. The courses would be owned by the government and would be free for anyone to take. Courses would be selected competitively, through peer review, for support.”

National Skills College: “Under the plan, the government would also support a “National Skills College” at a community college that would, among other things, work to develop examinations that could be given at the end of the courses so that colleges, employers and students could judge how much learning had taken place. Course developers would be asked to consult with colleges on standards, so that the offerings could be created with the goal of having credit transferred to many institutions.”

Job Training Programs: “The discussion draft for the job training program calls for spending $500 million a year in the first five years of the program, during which grants would be awarded competitively to community colleges, and $1.3 billion after that, at which point 50 percent of funds would be awarded by formula to states, 25 percent awarded to those states showing high performance programs, and 25 percent to community colleges, awarded competitively.  To be eligible, community colleges would need to agree to track and report on student outcomes, and to set targets for graduation rates and “employment-related outcomes,” while also serving “high need populations.”

Loan Fund for Facilities: “The loan fund for community college facilities would receive $10 billion under the plan. The loans would be for 10 years for repairs and renovations and 25 years for construction, and the plan calls for the loans to be “zero or low interest.” The funds would first be distributed to states, which would have to pledge that these funds would not cause states to cut funds for the colleges. States would distribute funds based on “demonstrated need,” with an emphasis on expanding capacity in programs that “meet employer needs in the areas of health care, green jobs, science, engineering and technology.”

 Specifics of this plan may still change as final adjustments are made, but a formal announcement of this plan may come as early as later this month.

 

By admin in Public Policy
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Secretary Duncan In The News

Friday, June 26th, 2009

This week Education Secretary Arne Duncan mentioned the role of career and technical education in two separate instances. His comments are worthy of your consideration.
In a blog post earlier this week we shared with you the announcement OVAE and the NRCCET made regarding technical assistance for five states to develop green programs of study. Connected to this announcement the Secretary was quoted as saying: “Green programs of study support the Administration’s goal of expanding a green workforce by preparing students for high-skill, high-wage jobs in a clean energy economy.” This comment, and the focus on green programs of study, should be a reminder to all of us that this administration, not just within the Education Department but across all Departments, are continually focusing on the importance of making things greener. It is of course also encouraging that the Secretary recognizes by his words the impact CTE programs can have on the green economy.

Yesterday the Secretary appeared on the Diane Rehm show on National Public Radio. He was interviewed for an entire one hour segment. Early on in the interview Ms. Rehm specifically asked the Secretary about the importance of “vocational” education and training. Within the context of the Secretary addressing college access and increasing college going Ms Rehm asked if everyone really needs four years of college. She pointed out that years ago vocational opportunities were readily available for people but the systems over the years seem to be moving away from that. The Secretary’s response, I think, was a positive one. In his response he said that he “is a big fan” of technical and vocational training programs. He said he wants to work on and give students lots of options and that we have to “find our way again” on these programs and “we” have a lot of interest in them. Later on the Secretary lauded the role of community colleges noting that they can have a huge role in getting our economy back on its feet and referred to the institutions as “an undervalued, under-recognized gem”.

During his interview the following topics were also discussed: early childhood, charter schools, college access, the drop out crisis, class size, charter schools, and accountability. If you would like to listen to the entire interview you can go to the NPR website at http://wamu.org/programs/dr/09/06/25.php#26159. The conversation regarding CTE begins about three and a half minutes into the interview and lasts for about two minutes.

By admin in Public Policy
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