1. Pellissippi State Community College
Universal Pathways to Employment Best Practices for Work-Based Learning and Employer Engagement
Pellissippi State Community College
Melissa VanDyke, M.S.
Business Liaison

2. Universal Pathways to Employment (UPEP)
UPEP is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor through the Office of Disability Employment Policy
Delivers integrated education and career training opportunities to students with disabilities

3. Universal Pathways to Employment 1 (UPEP)
Participants must be:
Student enrolled at Pellissippi State Community College
Have a documented disability
Between the ages of 14 and 24
Majoring in an Associate of Applied Science Degree

4. Program Highlights
Students are provided a Career Specialist to coordinate services and a Business Liaison to guide work-based learning activities
Students receive academic coaching that supports the transition from high school to college.
Students are tutored in English and Math while also being coached on learning strategies and connecting with campus resources to be successful
UPEP pays for those students who need updated psycho-educational documentation so that accommodations can be provided that accurately reflect functional limitations
Students are divided into levels according to their academic year
Bronze: First year
Silver: Second year
Silver Plus: Third year
Gold: Final semester (may be any year that the student is in their final semester)

5. Program Highlights 1
Students can earn a book stipend and scholarship by working with their career coach to successfully complete their contract
In addition to completing the contract, students must take at least 12 credit hours and receive a “C” or better in all of their classes to receive a $500 scholarship

6. UPEP Student Contracts
Contracts correlate to student level ( Bronze, Silver, Silver Plus, Gold)
Contracts provide a menu of opportunities including required and points opportunities for students to participate in.
The contracts are divided into four sections: Self- Exploration, Career Exploration, Career Planning and Management, and Work-Based Learning

7. UPEP Student Contracts 1
Bronze emphasizes self- exploration leading to self- advocacy, and work-based learning to support career counseling in the first semester
As the student progresses, the emphasis moves away from self-exploration and into career planning and management and work-based learning

8. Bronze Contract Goals Successful transition from high school
Build self-advocacy skills
Workshops
Study Skills and Time Management
Job Application
It’s Summer, What Now?
Increase engagement on campus
Club Connect
Sharing Our Area Resources (SOAR)
Peer to Peer Mentoring

9. Bronze Contract 1 Goals Career Exploration Work-Based Learning
Career Assessment
Career Counseling
Jobs4TN
Career Fair
Work-Based Learning
Job Shadowing
Site Visits
Informational Interviews
Summer Employment
Community Service

10. Silver Contract Goals Career Support Skills
Resume writing
Identifying references
Cover letter
Explore opportunities in their degree field
Research job titles and descriptions on O*Net
Career Jeopardy

11. Silver Contract 1 Goals Soft Skills Workshops Interview Skills
Business and Professional Communication
Teamwork
It’s Summer, What Now?
P30 (Profile in 30) Workshop and participate in P30 Challenge
Mock Interview with Career Coach

12. Silver Contract 2 Goals Work-Based Learning Site Visits
Informational Interviews
Summer Employment
Community Service
Workforce Recruitment Program
Employer Mentor
Internship

13. Silver Plus/Gold Contract
Goals
Career Planning and Management
Resume writing
Identifying references
Cover letter
Mock interviews with Business Liaison and employers
Career Fair

14. Silver Plus/Gold Contract 1
Goals
Soft Skills Workshops
WRP
Targeted Resumes
Social Media
Disability Disclosure
Job Search Techniques
Preparing for Change: From College Student to Career Professional
So You Think You Want to Move Out

15. Silver Plus/Gold Contract 2
Goals
Work-Based Learning
Community Service
Workforce Recruitment Program
Site Visit
Employer Mentor
Summer Employment or Internship
Internship for academic credit

16. Employer Engagement Understanding your Business Community
Evaluating the cultural climate of employers as it relates to disability employment
Do businesses in your community support disability employment?
Are there business leaders who support disability employment advocacy?
Large Corporations vs. Small Businesses
Degrees
Do you have employers that are government funded or government contractors in your area?
If employers are familiar with your program, do they know what disability community you serve?

17. Employer Engagement 1 Initial Employer Engagement
Where do you find employers for work-based learning?
Memberships in Disability Employment Advocacy Groups
Agencies and College/Universities
Career Fairs
Networking

18. Employer Engagement 2 Family and Friends Faculty and Staff
Cold Calling
Students and Parents ?

19. Employer Engagement 3 Strategies
Start with job shadowing or informational interviews first if employer is resistant to internships
If there are issues with confidentiality, ask for informational interviews, or site visits. Many times these employers will do workshops or mock interviews
Leverage the experience of engaged employers to advocate for you with new employers
Seek out alumni

20. Struggles and Lessons If an employer is resistant, move on
Practice, practice, practice (mock interviews, P30, etc)
Helping students on the autism spectrum embrace work-based learning
Some students do not realize the goal of their education is employment
Students unaware of the importance of being exposed to the workplace while determining their major and preparing for work upon graduation

21. UPEP Staff Indira Richardson Project Director Indira's email
LaKietha Jackson
Community Liaison
LaKietha's
Melissa VanDyke
Business Liaison
Melissa's
LaQuinta Jackson
Career Specialist
LaQuinta's
 Jennifer Cozart
Jennifer's  
Michelle Miller
Administrative Secretary
Michelle's