Oregon’s Career Pathway Initiative National Indian & American Employment & Training Conference Camille Preus, Director Dept. of Community Colleges and Workforce Development April 18, 2011

Oregon Career Pathways Initiative Oregon’s Career Pathways Statewide Initiative was launched recognizing that a wide range of workers enter the workforce in different ways and with different needs and that Oregon needs more trained workers with more post-secondary credentials for middle-skill occupations--jobs that require more than a high school degree but less than a four-year degree. 2

Why Career Pathways To address economic, workforce and education challenges: Businesses require employees with higher skills in order to remain competitive in global markets To meet students real life needs Education is essential to job advancement, increased wages and self-sufficiency 3

What is a Career Pathway? A career pathway is: a series of connected education and training programs and student supports that enable individuals to secure a job or advance in a demand occupation/ industry. Career Pathways focus on easing and facilitating student transition by clearly articulating the pathways from low-skilled to high-skilled, high demand jobs. 4

5

Oregon Context 17 independent community colleges (no state system) 15 WIA Title IB workforce regions within 7 Local Workforce Investment Boards (LWIBs) ABE/GED/ESL delivered by the community colleges State agency Dept. of Community Colleges & Workforce Development (CCWD) administers both community college general fund, WIA title II and LWIB WIA title 1B State Board of Education governs K-12 & community colleges State Workforce Board housed and staffed by CCWD 6

The Challenges of Change Increasing postsecondary attainment is a pressing economic and social need in most communities Declining state support and financial aid while tuition and cost of books escalate Higher costs of serving low skill & low income students Complex coordination with multiple internal and external partners Overcoming turf and resistance to change 7

Getting to Scale Statewide 5 colleges (2004) to 11 colleges (2006) to 17 colleges (2007) Oregon Pathways Academies: 2005, 2007 – Teams included workforce partners Healthcare Career Pathways Summit 2008 – Teams including workforce partners & employers Other industry sectors groups are on the horizon 8

Career Pathways: Diversified Funding WIA Title I-B WIA ITAs (Individual Training Accounts) WIA Title II for Oregon Pathways for Adult Basic Skills Post-Secondary Perkins State General Fund supporting Community College’s - Strategic Fund Federal Incentive Grants – 3 years in a row 9

Policy Changes & Investment in Tools Career Pathway Certificates – SBE nod in 2007 CC Presidents’ Resolution 2006, 2008, 2010 Roadmaps as common visual framework Pathways as common language/concept Career Pathway Roadmap Web Tool A way of doing business; a systemic framework (not a program) 10

Career Pathway Certificates Over 170 Career Pathway Roadmaps available across all 17 colleges. Statewide goal is to increase (by 400%) number of certificate completers in this biennium (09-11). On track to reach goal to have completers by June Career Pathway Certificates priority in Oregon’s: – Student Success Initiative to increase post-secondary credentials – Workforce Integration Initiative via WorkSource Oregon to increase skill development for first, next or better job 11

12

13

14

Career Pathways Web Tool Developed Web Tool for “marketing and career awareness” tool for students & advisors/counselors; move beyond print materials. – Contains 250+ community college roadmaps – 200+ Plan of Study (Perkins templates for high school to community college articulation) – On the horizon: Statewide Green Roadmaps Open Source agreement now: source code available Websites: – – –

For more information Camille Preus Director Dept. of Community Colleges & Workforce Development Mimi Maduro Pathways Initiative Statewide Director Dept. of Community Colleges & Workforce Development