It’s All about the “L” Word Northwest Region Plus 50 Conference February 10, 2010 American Association of Community Colleges Funded with a grant from Atlantic Philanthropies

Society’s Stereotypes About Aging Have Not Kept Up With Reality Not one of these people is over the age of 39!

Colleges' Plus 50 Program Focus Areas 30% 58% 86% 0%25%50%75%100% Service and Volunteering Training / Re-Training Academic / Enrichment / Personal Interest

-Shortages in skilled worker and managerial positions. -A loss of institutional knowledge to the business or company. -The loss of expertise and experience. -A leadership void in the workplace. The Loss of Experienced Workers: The Impact

For Many: Not Working Is Not an Option Many people will stay in the workforce well into retirement age so they can maximize their Social Security benefits.

Most people ages 55 to 70 continue to work, either full or part time, for money or for personal fulfillment. BUT… Plus 50 Adults: Work on Their Terms

The last time they looked for work was… and times have surely changed! –Resumes I have a resume; why do I need more than one? From where did I work to what did I do –Where to look for the jobs From print to digital –Interviewing Can they ask me that? How do I answer this question? I’ll just wing it –Technology Sure, I can use a computer (some)

Training and CCS

Training: Making It Work The Program Concept –Provide just enough just in time –Be accessible –Be exceptionally flexible –Be highly responsive to Boomers’ needs –Supportive environment –Non-credit

HOW? Internal Partners –Engage awesome faculty! –Counseling and Enrollment Services –Executive support –SCC Career Center In the Classroom –Create a multigenerational environment –Expand the program offerings –Modularize programming –Utilize multi-modal delivery

Career Builder… Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere Office/Professional Foundation Computer Apps Tech Toy Room NEW Keyboarding Business English Business Math Customer Service Lean Office Job Search (online) Using the Internet for Job SearchNEW Accounting/Bookkeeping Strand Quicken for Personal Money Management QuickBooks for the Workplace (hybrid) Medical Office Application Strand Medical Terminology (hybrid) Office Scheduling w/ MediSoft Office Procedures – 1 month Customer Service – 1 month Social Networking –1 month NEW Greening Your Future 40-hour class NEW Manufacturing Blueprint Reading Amatrol Safety (online)

Features of Career Builder Flexible design New content each month Multigenerational student population Open entry/Open Exit Extraordinary faculty Non-credit, FTE generating Accommodation: dual monitors, transportation If you need it, we will get it

Making Accommodation Visual – multiple monitors allows students to enlarge text copy. Auditory – online lessons enable students to modify volume and repeat lessons until they are comfortable with the material. Sensory – faculty and DSS staff work with students on these issues.

Cool Stuff: How Did We Do It? Strategic Partnerships –Internal Community Colleges of Spokane –SCC/SFCC/IEL/District –External WorkSource Spokane Employers Chambers of Commerce Educational Institutions National, state and local aging organizations Community and faith-based organizations

It’s All About the “L” Word Leveraging Students… Y’all come! –Plus 50, TANF, WIA Adult Low Income and Dislocated Workers, Worker Retraining, Voc Rehab, Self-pay Leveraging the Instructional Program –Modify the program to suit multiple audiences Individual Intake and Orientation by group Common goals Work together; help each other

Leveraging Dollars Leveraging Instructional Funding –A little bit of this; a little bit of that General funds, Worker Retraining, WorkFirst –Each fund is charged according to the percentage of students enrolled. Leveraging Fees –Multiple funders Senior Waiver, AARP, ALTCEW, WIA, Worker Retraining (may also include +50), TANF, DVR Students not in the +50 category pay standard fees.

So, what Can We Do Without Bucks? Conduct a needs assessment –Know what your Boomers want and need –Think about what YOU can do right now Identify your internal and external stakeholders –Who are they? –How can they help? –What can they do?

No Bucks? continued Use what you have in a new way. –Wrap a Boomer blanket around it. Check out courses or programs you have that can be modified for Plus 50. –Short-term courses… sounds like Worker Retraining. What do you have? Integrate Plus 50 into existing activity. –Identify Boomers as a population for programming –Bring the Boomers into the fold… not stand alone. Institutional commitment

No Bucks? continued Look for other funding streams –Always keep your eye out for ways to include them in other funding opportunities. Develop a strategic/action plan –When you’re looking for $$, it helps to know what you want to spend it on. Search out no cost/low cost options Partner with other areas in your Organization: Counseling, Career Center…build a team

A real “for instance”… CEO Center under construction What do we want? –A career center specifically for +50 folks What do we have? –A need –Interested faculty and administrators –No money What do we do? –Determine activity based on need –Identify faculty –Work with manager to incorporate in “time”

CEO Center continued Seek out space and ask –Answer “no” but other, better space identified and committed Gather materials and information –Tons available on Internet. –Intern will review, gather and organize What will we have? –A multi-purpose career center that serves all students in the building with a section and skilled counselors for +50. –A start

WHY? This is why!

If you build it, They WILL come.

Contact Information: Joanne Murcar, Ph.D. Dean of Instruction, Business and Community Training Community Colleges of Spokane Sharon Niblock Program Associate Community Colleges of Spokan

Thank you!!