triple the success
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Triple the Success. Nontraditional Students, Universities and Employers Working Together through PLA CAEL 2012 International Conference November 8, 2012. Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ Initiative. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Triple the SuccessNontraditional Students, Universities and Employers Working Together through PLACAEL 2012 International ConferenceNovember 8, 2012
Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ InitiativeMaine Employers’ Initiative (MEI) is a project
of the Maine Development Foundation (MDF)MDF is a private, non-profit, non-partisan
organization with a broad mandate to build a long term vision for a sustainable economy in ME
A key to economic growth is education:◦ ME is near the national average in degree
attainment but lags behind NE◦ Low per capita income, declining traditional age
student populations, oldest state in the nation The workforce we have now is the workforce we will have
for the future
Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ InitiativeEmployers are critical to increasing degree
attainment in MEProgram Mechanics:
◦ Program began in 2007 (Lumina Foundation support)
◦ Employers complete an on line needs assessment◦ Employers complete a commitment letter
outlining the “one more step” they will take to support education and development in the workplace (this could take the form of workshops, meetings with employees, development of career plans, allowing time off for class, tuition support, etc)
Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ InitiativeProgram Additions:
◦ Working with specific regions to focus our efforts
◦ Tuition incentives from higher education (6 institutions)
◦ Hosting/organizing “employers briefings” with partner organizations to bring business/higher education together
◦ Designed a web site and marketing campaign for adult students
◦ Scholarship program
Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ InitiativePartners:
◦ 26 member advisory council representing employers, workforce investment, higher education, adult education, human resources
◦ Major partners: Higher education, larger employers in ME, Society for Human Resource Mgt (state council and 7 regional chapters), Adult Education Association
◦ Current participation: 145 Employers reaching over 60,000 employees
Triple the Success: Survey Tool and Process for JoiningEmployer is recruited by MEI or partner to
complete the survey; follow up in person meeting is set; commitment letter is completed at the meeting
Survey monkey on line tool – takes 10 min or less◦ Is shorter than original◦ -More general about educational supports (not just
degree completion)◦ Added questions about shortages and skill needs to try
to assess specific needsOne page letter of commitment which outlines
change company will make, timeline, and # of employees impacted
Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ Initiative
After joining: Individual press release is sent outRecognized at an event each yearListed on the MEI website and
associate materials as membersOn going assistance to implementBroker Meetings with PLA expertShare sample policies, materials for
employees, etc.
Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – What Works and What Doesn’tCEO or HR director best place to start – need to
assess whether buy in from the top is needed to get assistance from HR; sometime HR has autonomy and can be the decision maker
HR is a critical player as they know policies and will be the implementers
Referrals are best to identify companies – Asking HR or others who know people in the company to set up meetings (and join MEI for the visit) is more effective than cold calling
Come prepared with laptop and survey so that first step can happen at the meeting
Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – What Works and What Doesn’tImportant to market to employers that
they can become known as an “education committed” employer – positive marketing works, recognition events work (all as incentives for employers to join)
Trickiest part: getting past the employer and to the employees – Ideally, set this up right away when the employer commits (figure out a follow up plan and timeline)
Ongoing communication is key – continue the relationship
Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – What Works and What Doesn’tWhat We Hear When We Visit:
◦ Time Constraints◦ Concern that if employees go back to
school, they will leave◦ Cost – to join the program or need to
support tuition assistance (if they don’t already)
◦ Feel that employees already have degrees◦ Need technical skills and certifications, not
degrees
Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – Predicators of SuccessLeadership – an active champion in
the companyCulture – Look for companies and
businesses that are growingDemographics – Identify companies
with a large employee base that isn’t likely to have degrees
Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – What we would do differentlyEmployee surveys – Need better information
from the employees themselves – work with employers to conduct an employee survey, add in functionality to sign up for workshops on the spot
College/education coach – Ask each company to appoint a point person for the program
Always have a completed survey before the meeting
Better name/better marketing – MEI needed better branding at the start!
Context – should be part of a broader statewide initiative
Triple the Success: MEI – Next StepsNext Step Maine Website
◦ Venue for communicating with non-traditional students
◦ Serve as a focal point for statewide marketing campaign to raise the profile of adult learning
◦ Reduce the information barrier for adult studentsScholarship Fund
◦ Employers give $1000 to a scholarship fund for “employees of promise” (to be nominated by employers)
◦ Engages employers in the process of encouraging employees to take the next step
◦ Will be awarding ten $1000 scholarships this year and profiling them on the Next Step Maine website
Triple the Success: MEI – Next Steps
Cap the Employers in the Network and Focus on Getting to the Employees◦ Big challenge: providing enough attention
to employers with one staff person◦ Plan is to cap the program to provide more
value to existing employers◦ Add the metric of documenting the actual
students going back to school or reaching their educational goals (rather than the number of employers in the network)
Triple the Success: Prior Learning Credit at the University of Southern Maine (USM)
PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT AT USM
Earn Credit for What You Know
Triple the Success: Prior Learning Credit at the University of Southern Maine (USM)
About the University of Southern Maine: Is a northern New England
comprehensive public university Has three campuses – Portland,
Gorham, and Lewiston-Auburn Offers baccalaureate, master’s, and
doctoral programs Serves just under 10,000 students Has an average student age of 26
Triple the Success: University of Southern MainePrior Learning Assessment (PLA)
is a process created for you to demonstrate your college-level expertise and knowledge in a particular field, so you can be placed into college courses or earn college credit
Triple the Success: University of Southern MaineTheory and Practice can be gained
through: Independent Study Personal Interest or Reading Volunteer Work Non-College Work Experience Courses On-the-job Training or Apprenticeships Workshops or Professional
Development
Triple the Success: University of Southern Maine – Types of PLA Credit by Examination CLEP (College Level Examination Program) DSST (Dantes – Defense Activity for Non-
Traditional Education) Challenge Exams (for USM students) AP (Advanced Placement Exams) IB (International Baccalaureate) NYU (Language Exams) Credential Review Military Service Portfolio
Triple the Success: University of Southern Maine – Credits Needed for a Degree
Three types of credits from which to choose when completing an undergraduate degree at USM:
General Educational Requirements (CORE)Major Requirements (Course specific)General Electives (GEL)
At least 120 credits required to graduate PLA process offers all 3 credit possibilities
Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and the University of Southern Maine (USM)
Education and Work Place Partnership
Supporting “One More Step”
Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USM
Integrating USM’s PLA and Work Place Learning
with
Joint Appearances with
Maine Employers’ Initiative
Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USMWorkshops: Westbrook Community Center
Multiple-Campus Information Brunch WEX (Wright Express) General Dynamics Career Centers Goodwill Industries PowerPay
Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USMWorkplace Training Programs:
Insurance Banking Maine Roads to Quality Mental and Behavioral Health
Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USM
Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USM
Triple the Success: University of Maine SystemPrior Learning Assessment exists, in
some form, on all campusUniversity of Southern Maine (USM)
and University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) have all elements of PLA including portfolio assessment
UMS has convened a Task Force to present recommendations related to a consistent approach to PLA systemwide
Triple the Success: University of Maine SystemAgree to adopt PLA best practices as
stated by CAELTransportability of credit
◦ Agree to accept all PLA options (standardized testing, credential reviews, military credits, academic portfolios) for course equivalent credits that are listed in the Transfer Equivalency matrix of the UMS as direct course equivalent transfer credits
For more information: Rosa Redonnett, Chief Student Affairs
Officer, University of Maine System; Co-Chair, Maine Employers’ Initiative Advisory Committee, [email protected]://www.mdf.org/mei_overview.php
Joyce Lapping, Director of Prior Learning Assessment, University of Southern Maine, [email protected]://www.usm.maine.edu/pla