The Continuum of College and Career

ReadinessCreating Successful Transitions to Postsecondary Education

Dr. David T. Conley, Professor, University of Oregon, CEO- EPIC

© 2011 David T. Conley

Today’s talk is based on:

© 2011 David T. Conley

Today’s students are entering a different

world.

YESTERDAY

Work for large company

One job for life

Steadily increasing pay

Stay in hometown

Secure retirement

Well-paying jobs available in low-skill professions

No real international competition for good jobs

TODAY

Work for small company

Multiple jobs

Pay freezes/cuts

Move for work or career

Uncertain retirement

Low-paying jobs in low-skill professions

Cut-throat international competition for good jobs

© 2011 David T. Conley

4

TODAY’S STUDENTS NEED STRONG SKILLS TO ENTER TOMORROW’S WORKFORCE

The United States is out of step with the rest of the world’s richest industrialized nations, growing faster but creating far fewer jobs.

U.S. workers have become so productive that it’s harder for anyone without a job to get one.

Companies are producing and profiting more than when the recession began, despite fewer workers.

• 7.5 million jobs lost since the recession began.** Weisman, Paul. “U.S. productivity gains stifle job creation.” USA Today. April 4, 2011. © 2011 David T. Conley

About 1 in 3 students who enroll in either a four-year or two-year college will transfer at some point.1

Anywhere from 65 to 85 percent of students will change their majors at least once.2

Young adults change jobs an average of seven times from age 20 to 29.3

The result is reduced lifetime income and diminished career development.

the

SWIRL

of young adulthood

SOURCES: 1National Association for College Admission Counseling (2010). 2ACT (2005). 3US Department of Labor Statistics (2010).

© 2011 David T. Conley

Today’s young people need to be adaptive, flexible learners.

© 2011 David T. Conley

We’re entering a POLICY ENVIRONMENT focused on college and career readiness.

+ NCLB waivers demand college/career readiness standards.

+ ESEA reauthorization elevates college and career readiness.

+ Individual states are setting college/career ready goals.© 2011 David T. Conley

Different Types of Readiness

© 2011 David T. Conley

College and career readiness can be defined as success ‒without remediation‒ in credit-bearing general education courses or a two-year certificate program.

“Succeed” is defined as being able to progress successfully in the chosen program

© 2011 David T. Conley

KEY PRINCIPLES

College readiness is not a cut score.

Current measures of readiness are insufficiently actionable or precise.

Readiness is best captured in a profile that shows how student interests and skills align with specific postsecondary programs.

Success in postsecondary educational settings is a function of readiness across multiple dimensions.

© 2011 David T. Conley

FOUR KEYS TO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS

+ Structure of knowledge

+ Key terms and terminology

+ Factual information

+ Linking ideas

+ Organizing concepts

+ Challenge level

+ Value

+ Attribution

+ Effort

+ Ownership of learning

+ Goal setting

+ Persistence

+ Self-awareness

+ Motivation

+ Help seeking

+ Progress monitoring

+ Self-efficacy

+ Learning techniques

+ Time management

+ Test taking skills

+ Note taking skills

+ Memorization/recall

+ Strategic reading

+ Collaborative learning

+ Technology proficiency

+ Postsecondary awareness

+ Aspirations

+ Norms/culture

+ Postsecondary costs

+ Tuition

+ Financial aid

+ Matriculation

+ Eligibility

+ Admissions

+ Program

+ Career awareness

+ Requirements

+ Readiness

+ Role and identity

+ Role models

+ Self-advocacy

+ Problem formulation

+ Hypothesize

+ Strategize

+ Research

+ Identify

+ Collect

+ Interpretation

+ Analyze

+ Evaluate

+ Communication

+ Organize

+ Construct

+ Precision & accuracy

+ Monitor

+ Confirm

© 2011 David T. Conley

For more information,visit www.epiconline.org

© 2011 David T. Conley