Pathways for Dislocated Workers Conference Track: Best Practices in Workforce and Economic Development Session Information: 1:30pm – 2:30pm October 16, 2013 Room: Milwaukee

Pathways for Dislocated Workers Presenters Dr. Jo Alice Blondin President Clark State Community College Mr. Richard Harris Chief Student Officer Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus Sandra Cheffer Chief Fiscal Officer Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus

Pathways for Dislocated Workers Overview: Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus response to community need Economic climate/need Institution’s capacity to respond Partners involved Program Implementation and Duplication Replication At Other Institutions

Economic Climate Regional economic profile – Ft. Smith, AR 2007 – 300,000 residents in the metro area (7 counties) – Number 6 City in the Nation for Cost of Doing Business according to Forbes Magazine – 83% High School Diplomas – 20% Bachelor’s Degrees – Median household income: $32,000 – Median family income: $41,960 – Ozark, AR is the home of ATU-Ozark, a town of 3,500 people, and located approximately 35 miles from Ft. Smith Who was Whirlpool – Largest employer in Ft. Smith area – 5,000 good-paying jobs at its peak in 2003 – Permanently closed its doors 6/29/2012

ATU-Ozark Ability and Willingness to Respond Mission-driven institution Technical education is the primary focus 2007 – Enrollment of 550 students – 13 Programs of Study Practical Nursing program was accepting 80 students per year (40 Fall, 40 Spring)

Agency Partnerships Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Under the US Department of Labor Came into being under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and was first proposed by President Kennedy to assist US workers who lost their jobs to foreign trade According to the Department of Labor Statistics, the average worker receiving TAA benefits has no education beyond high school, is from a manufacturing sector, and is 46 years of age. Workers who qualify are able to receive: – training that will improve their work skills in order to find new employment. (improve marketability). – Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) – Travel allowance

Agency Partnerships Arkansas Department of Workforce Services – Manage TAA funding for the State of Arkansas – Case Management Retraining Job placement Execute contracts for both individual students and partnerships with schools.

2010 TAA Statistical Data and Comparison (most recent statistics) – Arkansas Data 32 Petitions certified 2,350 estimated workers covered $26,139,860 awarded to Arkansas – Oklahoma 17 Petitions certified 833 estimated workers covered $10,605,276 awarded to Oklahoma – Mississippi 17 Petitions certified 1,876 estimated workers covered $8,887,095 awarded to Mississippi

2010 TAA Statistical Data and Comparison

Agency Partnerships Workforce Investment Act of 1998 – Enacted to replace the Job Training Partnership Act from 1982 – Purpose is to initiate private sector response to support job training efforts in communities. Workforce Investment Board (WIB) – Instituted to manage the Arkansas Workforce Act – Created local board that combine public and private entities to support job training efforts within the communities. – Facilitated the partnership between DWS and ATU-Ozark that established the unique TAA Nursing Program. – Arkansas Workforce Centers provide locally developed and operated services linking employers and jobseekers through a statewide system. “One-stop" centers are designed to eliminate the need to visit different locations. (insert link – definition ) WAEDA – Western Arkansas Employment Development Agency Funded through WIB Services include job placement support and direct financial assistance directly to students (supplement to TAA funding) – Insert web link for cited information Adult Education – assisted to improve college readiness for many dislocated workers.

Partnership Collaboration DWS initiated contact with the Ozark Campus through the WIB Ozark Campus created partnership with local hospitals to assist in program delivery. – Classroom space – Clinical rotations Contract was proposed between DWS and ATU- Ozark to create, implement and deliver a Practical Nursing program for dislocated workers within an accelerated timeframe.

Financing the Program Calculate total grant funds – Program Costs Instruction (salaries, benefits) Student tuition, fees, books and supplies Facilities costs such as rent and utilities Equipment Other expenses to students * – Indirect Cost rate not charged – Contract was written, vetted and signed

TAA Practical Nursing Program Implementation Recruitment of students – Remove students’ barriers – Eliminated competition with non-TAA Practical Nursing applicants Student preparation – Admissions, Testing and Financial Aid – Intensive advising sessions Condensed the academic program from three full semesters to one calendar year Identified and hired new faculty

TAA Program Outcomes and Lessons Learned How to manage the class and students Ensuring college readiness Program Location Program requirement changes – platform courses Faculty Roles – balance the instruction How to structure the funding model Changed end of program course requirements to improve board examination pass rates – Focus to improve program outcomes and ensure student success – Used Perkins funds to purchase materials and software, and integrated this instruction into the curriculum

TAA Program Outcomes and Lessons Learned (continued) Successful implementation of first program led to interest in subsequent programs – Since 2006 – total of four TAA programs – Created additional slots just for TAA workers Three Nursing cohorts One Air Conditioning and Refrigeration cohort – 17 students entered and completed the program – Employment data is not available at this time – All from layoffs and facility closure in the manufacturing sector Also proposed a Welding program; funding not approved From January 2007 – July 2010 – 54 students entered program, 49 graduated, 45 found employment Amended the program and contract each time – as mentioned in previous slides

TAA Program Duplication Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus exceled at fulfilling the goals of the contract and the needs and expectations of the students Benefits to DWS – Reducing the long-term cost of dislocated workers Retraining costs for one year versus unemployment and TRA benefits for up to 30 months – Getting workers back into the workforce in a timely manner – Creating opportunities for dislocated workers that did not otherwise exist Allowed WIB to fulfill its mission by leveraging private and public entities to meet local employment needs.

Replication At Other Institutions Evaluate the economic climate – Awareness of the economy in the region and in the state Are there any company layoffs or closings, or other job losses Adopt a collaborative mentality – Be sensitive, availability to the community, be a willing partner, be willing to allocate the resources to respond to the need – this will need support from all levels of the institution, – Identify the needs in the service area where education, government and economic uncertainty can be combined to benefit the workforce. How can the institution adapt to the environment? – What sectors of the economy are lacking a qualified workforce? Seek Agency/funding partnerships – Position your institution to be able to enlist help. Start now; if you are not already involved in those partnerships, seek them. Develop Program Timeline – Curriculum Create accessibility for education but do not compromise academic integrity – Facilities – Establish a contract Clear goals and responsibilities Proper funding: funding – the money is there – need to access it – don’t be afraid to ask Focus on program retention, completion, and employment Celebrate and publicize successes

Reach for New Heights

Pride in Success