Workforce & Education Leadership Challenge AHE 517 TEAM PROJECT – BILL BELDEN, SKYE FIELD, & DAN TARKER

Central Question How do Workforce/Training programs at community colleges maintain nimble, responsive curriculum?

Subjects Interviewed  Associate Vice President of Economic and Community Development  Executive Dean of Workforce Education  Dean of Workforce Education  Director of Corporate and Customized Training  Business Faculty  Allied Health Faculty

Interview Questions  How do you involve or engage industry in keeping your curriculum current and relevant?  How do you support/engage in the development/refinement of new programs and program enhancements?  How do you support professional development for faculty in CTE?  How do you attract and retain faculty in CTE programs when industry pays more in key areas of need?  How do you define responsive curriculum?  Is there anything else you would like to share related to this topic?

Responses

How do you involve or engage industry in keeping your curriculum current and relevant? Meetings with Industry Partners Discuss current and emerging needs through discovery tours of regional businesses. Corporate education assesses what industry is willing to pay for Identify program and curriculum changes to prepare graduates for needs of industry. Utilize labor market data Advisory Committees Required by Perkin’s legislation for CTE programs. Must include representatives from industry and labor Must manage committees to ensure broad input Important connections for clinical partnerships and externships Review degree offerings annually and provide input on program changes Faculty Engagement Faculty needs to build relationships with industries related to their programs Refer potential adjunct faculty possessing needed skills to existing programs Curriculum development Build educational pathways Community Surveys Alumni and employers of alumni assess program effectiveness and graduate preparedness

How do you support/engage in the development/refinement of new programs and program enhancements? Program Development Serve as business incubator through corporate education Build menu of training options that can be tailored for industry Advisory committees or industry partners identify a need, and need is investigated for further action Program Mix Review programs and curriculum frequently to ensure right offerings are in place to serve local community Need to add/eliminate programs as necessary Conduct market analysis of student employment, placement data, and community research regarding program viability Faculty/Admin. Engagement Review program needs and hire faculty (full and part- time) based on the changing needs of employment market and industry Leadership and faculty serve on committees to help inform the college community of needs for changes to existing programs and introduction of new programs

How do you support professional development for faculty in CTE? Needs Assessment As training needs are identified by advisory committees or program changes – faculty are encouraged to request professional development funds Corporate education identifies employer needs and provides specialized training for existing faculty to support program development and exploration Program assessments identify new technology and faculty training needs to integrate new resources into their curriculum Funding Utilize grant and institutional funds to support faculty professional development – Title IV, Perkins, Worker Retraining, etc. Industry can provide needed funding for maintaining equipment, providing training, or allowing access to their facilities College funding is tied to accreditation status and must maintain all certifications to ensure compliance Challenge of engaging PT faculty in professional development is formidable because they are not paid to engage in certain activities and they don’t have the time Certification Long time faculty may lose touch with industry changes; need to ensure they remain connected to advances Community colleges provide seminars for those involved in clinical placements Faculty are required to maintain their professional certifications Colleges provide sabbaticals for faculty to work in industry or seek additional education and training

How do you attract and retain faculty in CTE programs when industry pays more in key areas of need? Faculty Pay Faculty pay is negotiated and contractual Many times colleges are not able to pay more to faculty in areas of high demand Faculty are able to supplement their income via moon-light contracts Base pay seems low, but when considered on an hourly basis – it pays higher than many industries. Hiring Process Need to have a strong focus on diversity and gender in the hiring process of fields traditionally underrepresented in these areas Instructional programs and faculty must keep pace with changing industry population Colleges invest in growing their own faculty pool – bringing in industry practitioners, moving them to adjunct positions then hopefully they are interested in full-time faculty roles Passion Many prospective faculty are looking for new challenges, a change of pace, and a way to give back to the community or supplement their income Many instructors tend to be older and have physically aged out of the industry and/or midcareer changers who are looking for flexibility and new opportunities

How do you define responsive curriculum? Modality Instructional programs are accessible to the community and offered at times and places where students can take advantage Flexibility includes when and how classes are taught: time of day, weekends, online and address multiple learning styles Student Success Clear learning outcomes, assessment, and evaluation Costs of tuition and material as well as availability of financial aid Being able to adapt teaching method to individual learning styles and personal constraints Transferrable skills – student are able to use their skills to move to other occupational areas Aligned with Industry Training that is timely and available when industry has a defined need Faculty are trained and provided development to fully engage with industry partners Curriculum that provides what industry requires and includes utilizing the latest software, new technologies, and updated textbooks Programs are cost efficient and reflect the input of industry partners Colleges need to be very careful about how funds are allocated – investing time in research and process.

Is there anything else you would like to share related to this topic? Corporate Education Builds trust with the college faculty and programs and focuses on the expertise of everyone involved Relationships, and business connections are enhanced by faculty expertise in teaching and curriculum development. Serves as an incubator for new programs and transition them to credit at the appropriate time. Some programs are better served in the corporate climate – short term, volatile, or price conscience Industry Partnerships Need to support the economic viability and success of each partner Personalities and territorial issues play a key role in decision making when dealing with private industry Initial and ongoing training will be required for everyone throughout their career – terminal degrees are a thing of the past Innovation Developing new programs is difficult; much easier to adjust current offerings - cost, tenure, and flexibility are key factors Industry engagement, relevancy of program, employment opportunities, ability to recruit students, and ability to overcome image/reputation issues are key concerns when building and maintaining CTE programs Industry and training need to remain flexible and adaptive to meet the changing economy Career pathways are the future as Federal legislation emphasizes this approach

Is there anything else you would like to share related to this topic? (Continued) Accreditation  Curriculum is driven by accreditation bodies  CTE programs have specific program accreditation and regional accreditation to meet  The programs are nationally accredited, competency based and utilize exit exams

Boiling All This Down

Common Responses/Themes Communication with Business/Industry Relationships and communication with industry, business, and employers is crucial to developing and delivering responsive curriculum. Advisory committees are an important factor in building and maintaining strong college, faculty, and industry relationships. Corporate and continuing education departments serve as incubators for the identification and nurturing of new CTE programs. Program Development & Maintenance Programs and course offering require frequent review and revision to maintain responsiveness to the local community. New programs are identified through partnership conversations and analysis of labor market data and trends. Program and curriculum changes are complex based on the governance structure of an institution, union relationships, economic factors, and availability of resources. Learning outcomes, flexible options, and program costs are components of success for any program. Hiring Maintaining Faculty Hiring, retaining, and engaging faculty is important to achieving program and organizational goals. Professional development opportunities are key to maintaining certifications, enriching the curriculum, and supporting student success. In addition, colleges must be aware of diversity and changing demographics as they make hiring decisions.

Other Corporate & Workforce Education Takeaways  Self-identify as the bridge between industry and the college  Focused on profit and loss due to self-support status  Strengths are communication, marketing, and sales  Must remain fluid and responsive to remain relevant  See instruction and college as cumbersome, unresponsive, and slow to respond  Are viewed by college as mavericks – clashing with the college culture  Rely on building strong relationships with business, faculty, and administration