Discovery Academies: A New Approach Dr. Jill Budde October 9, 2019

First off…. Let’s talk logistics

Indian Hills Community College Main campus in Ottumwa, Iowa Serve a 10-county region Rural communities: total population 137,121 3 of the poorest of the 99 counties in Iowa Career & Workforce Education Division Health Sciences Advanced Technologies Continuing Education & Workforce Solutions IowaWORKS

Enrollment @ IHCC Fall 2019 enrollment: 3559 heads 9% decline since Fall 2018 18% decline since Fall 2014 43% of total enrollment is concurrent enrollment (1530 students)

Unemployment affecting IHCC U.S. August 2019 Unemployment Rate: 3.7% Iowa’s August 2019 Unemployment Rate: 2.5% IHCC Region August 2019 Unemployment Rate: 3.2% (2,200 total people) www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov Iowa projects 9.1% increase in new jobs by 2026 IHCC Region: Manufacturing, Health Care, Specialty Trades, Education, Truck transportation, Warehousing and Storage

IHCC’s High School partners IHCC Connect2College office 19 High schools in Region 15 in Fall 2019 Area school populations are declining Largest high school has about 4000 K-12 students (~300 students/grade) 12 schools have K-12 population below 1000 students (~75 students/grade)

www.indianhills.edu

The Issues… Capacity in CTE program foundational courses HS students “don’t know” program possibilities Local school districts can’t afford to implement much more CTE on their campus Space, equipment, teachers Employers cannot find enough skilled workers

One attempt at a Solution Discovery Academies at Indian Hills

The idea… Our CTE campus programs have capacity Our High School partners are struggling to offer adequate amounts of Career Exploration Work with school districts to get blocks of time for 11th and 12th grade students for on campus opportunities. Rearrange the College course schedule to fit the blocks available in the mornings.

Year 1 – the Guinea Pigs Getting the word out: marketing!! Show students and parents why this is a great option for them Option to change programs after a term or 2 Credits Earned/Dollars Saved home mailing 52 students attended Fall 2018 9 different discovery academy programs

Marketing Matters Discovery Academy concept flyer Counselors and postcards mailed to homes Social media push Each Discovery Program flyer: academic year course schedule Counselors in hard copy IHCC website Full program curriculum Show % completed $1000 scholarship just for completing a class successfully

Year 2 – Figuring things out The Polar Vortex of 2019… Impeded January recruiting and concurrent enrollment registration (11 or more days missed due to weather!)

Despite The Freeze…. 154 students attended Fall 2019 11 different discovery academy programs 42 of them are returning students from 2018 For Winter 2019, we expect that number to climb…..

The Barriers Transportation Cost for course fees Buy-in from high school personnel Parent awareness of opportunities

Solutions to the Barriers Transportation Oskaloosa CSD was awarded a $25,000 FRI grant to bus kids from OCSD, North Mahaska and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont CSD starting in November. Matched by local employers = $50,000 Cost for Course Fees Currently paid by IHCC Connect2College office *Need to look at future based on growth

Solutions to the Barriers Buy-In from School personnel Largest district has the least % of kids YTD School leaders have changed counselor supervision to encourage more concurrent enrollment Superintendent verbalized goal of 300 kids for 20/FA for their school! Parent awareness of opportunities Invited to P/T conferences to discuss options Improving IHCC Admissions knowledge of opportunity Translating materials into Spanish for students/families

What’s next?? Continue growth and encourage matriculation in CTE programs following High School graduation Look for more WBL and apprenticeship opportunities throughout school year for students Make sure the CTE outreach is widespread throughout our region in opportunities for students

Questions?? Jill.Budde@indianhills.edu