A Systematic Approach to Prior Learning Assessment Bill Koontz & Matt Thomsen

Demographic Info Sioux City, IA Sioux City, IA Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota Siouxland Population of 120,000+ Siouxland Population of 120,000+

Demographic Info Western Iowa Tech Community College Western Iowa Tech Community College Founded in 1966 Founded in 1966 Serves 6 counties with 4 branch/center campuses Serves 6 counties with 4 branch/center campuses Credit Enrollment of students Credit Enrollment of students 70+ programs 70+ programs Corporate College Corporate College Non-Credit Enrollment of students Non-Credit Enrollment of students

Demographic Info Wells Enterprises Wells Enterprises Founded in 1913 Founded in 1913 Largest privately held ice cream and frozen treat maker in US Largest privately held ice cream and frozen treat maker in US Employee force of over Employee force of over Le Mars, IA Le Mars, IA Complete Your Degree Initiative Complete Your Degree Initiative

Problem Aging American Workforce Aging American Workforce In demographic terms, about 10,000 baby boomers in the United States will turn 65 every day until about the year 2030, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Death Of Shop Class And America's Skilled Workforce The Death Of Shop Class And America's Skilled Workforce Without early exposure to shop class many kids are going to lose out on the opportunity to discover whether or not they like making things, and the inclination to pursue a career as a drafter, carpenter, welder or auto mechanic. Lack of shared space in the community to bring companies together. Lack of shared space in the community to bring companies together.

Suggest Solutions Building Incumbent Workers Job Skills with Effective Workforce Training Programs Building Incumbent Workers Job Skills with Effective Workforce Training Programs Utilizing Job Training Experience To Enhance Educational Levels Utilizing Job Training Experience To Enhance Educational Levels Utilizing training funds that are directed to evidence-backed programs and to workers who can benefit from those programs. Utilizing training funds that are directed to evidence-backed programs and to workers who can benefit from those programs. Build training programs that directly engage employer and industry partners and actively guide students to career specific training. d Build training programs that directly engage employer and industry partners and actively guide students to career specific training. d

Stackable Credentials Designed to form a pathway for students to acquire credentials along a trajectory. Designed to form a pathway for students to acquire credentials along a trajectory. Have exit and entry points designed in a way to allow students to pick up wherever they left off en route to the next level of achievement. Have exit and entry points designed in a way to allow students to pick up wherever they left off en route to the next level of achievement. Associate's degrees leading to bachelor's degrees leading to master's degrees are stacked credentials. Associate's degrees leading to bachelor's degrees leading to master's degrees are stacked credentials. Higher education should act in concert with industry to ensure that standards of quality and rigor are attached to any certification. Higher education should act in concert with industry to ensure that standards of quality and rigor are attached to any certification.

Stackable Credentials

The wrinkle in today's approach is that the initial stacks are sliced thinner, typically starting with an industry certification or the completion of a course sequence that provides the student with a marketable skill. The wrinkle in today's approach is that the initial stacks are sliced thinner, typically starting with an industry certification or the completion of a course sequence that provides the student with a marketable skill. The stack must be built on a solid foundation; without clear standards, we do harm to both the student and the workforce. The stack must be built on a solid foundation; without clear standards, we do harm to both the student and the workforce.

Endorsed Stackable Credentials The NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification System is a system of stackable credentials that can apply to all sectors in the manufacturing industry. The NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification System is a system of stackable credentials that can apply to all sectors in the manufacturing industry.

Sector Board Needs The Western Iowa Tech Community College Industrial Maintenance Sector Board was created to identify current and projected workforce issues and develop strategies to address them. The Western Iowa Tech Community College Industrial Maintenance Sector Board was created to identify current and projected workforce issues and develop strategies to address them. This board provided an active forum for Industrial Maintenance workforce-related topics/needs in order to keep our economic region competitive and growing. This board provided an active forum for Industrial Maintenance workforce-related topics/needs in order to keep our economic region competitive and growing. Business leaders brought together to engage in a structured discussion on the workforce challenges facing Western Iowa’s industries. Business leaders brought together to engage in a structured discussion on the workforce challenges facing Western Iowa’s industries. The board is charged with providing input on: The board is charged with providing input on: Labor Forecasting - Jobs/Skills/Educational Needs Labor Forecasting - Jobs/Skills/Educational Needs

Needs of Industry Basic Electrical Motor Control Electromechanical Control Systems Electrical Control Circuits Electrical Circuits Electrical Measurements Electro-Control of Fluid Power Industrial Electronic Sensors Industrial Automation Industrial Electrical Wiring Industrial Power Distribution Programmable Controllers PLC Systems Troubleshooting AC Electronic Drives DC Electronic Drives Boiler Systems Building Automation Precisions Measurements Hydraulics Pneumatics Pneumatic Troubleshooting Hydraulic Troubleshooting Power Transmission Predictive Maintenance Instrumentation Blueprint Reading Mechanical Drives Pumps Systems Troubleshooting

Contract Training Pathways Electrical Maintenance Technician Certificate Levels Electrical Maintenance Technician Certificate Levels Mechanical Maintenance Technician Certificate Levels 1-4 Mechanical Maintenance Technician Certificate Levels 1-4 Reliability Technician Levels 1-2 Reliability Technician Levels 1-2

Contract Training Pathways Electrical Maintenance Tech (Hours) Basic Electrical Motor Controls Blueprint Reading Industrial Wiring PLC'sElectrical Safety Tech Level Tech Level Tech Level Tech Level HydraulicsPneumatics Blueprint Reading Power Transmission PumpsMechanical Safety Tech Level Tech Level Tech Level Tech Level Mechanical Maintenance Tech (hours)

Continuing Education to Credit Conversion SJT – Structured Job Training SJT – Structured Job Training Lawson – Internal Training Log System Lawson – Internal Training Log System Internship Credit Conversion – Work Experience Internship Credit Conversion – Work Experience Other – college, military, certifications Other – college, military, certifications

Systematic Pathway to Degree Completion Recruitment initiated Recruitment initiated Joined with Corporate College Joined with Corporate College Added Academics Added Academics Developed Consistent Credit Review Developed Consistent Credit Review Created Process for Industry Review Created Process for Industry Review

HSED to PhD Partnership WITCC WITCC HSED (GED) HSED (GED) ELL ELL Associate’s Degree (focus on Tech Studies) Associate’s Degree (focus on Tech Studies) Bellevue University Bellevue University Bachelor’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Degree Master’s Degree PhD PhD

Challenges No Consistency on Review No Consistency on Review Academics and Continuing Education “playing nice” Academics and Continuing Education “playing nice” Defining/Categorizing continuing education into credit Defining/Categorizing continuing education into credit Time for Review – build the time, multiple departmental reviews Time for Review – build the time, multiple departmental reviews Proving importance to college and industry administration Proving importance to college and industry administration

Champions Recruitment – outside force pushing Recruitment – outside force pushing Corporate College – eager to convert non-credit experience to credit Corporate College – eager to convert non-credit experience to credit Wells Internal Champion to push Wells Internal Champion to push Registrar to finalize documents Registrar to finalize documents Industry to make educational advancement part of the culture Industry to make educational advancement part of the culture

Successes 2 graduates after first summer 2 graduates after first summer 21 enrolled currently with more coming 21 enrolled currently with more coming Training now has credit conversion in mind Training now has credit conversion in mind Shift towards industry educational culture Shift towards industry educational culture Sustainable continuing education training methodology Sustainable continuing education training methodology

Sustainability Trainings tied to credit if student wishes Trainings tied to credit if student wishes Roll down into communities, families, schools, workforce Roll down into communities, families, schools, workforce Continuing to build a pipeline of a trained workforce Continuing to build a pipeline of a trained workforce Building communication between industry and educational entities Building communication between industry and educational entities

Questions Questions, comments, wonders, concerns? Questions, comments, wonders, concerns? Thank you for attending!!! Thank you for attending!!!

Contact Info Bill Koontz, Project Manager, x1358 Bill Koontz, Project Manager, Matt Thomsen, Recruitment Coordinator, x4207 Matt Thomsen, Recruitment Coordinator, x4207