1. Leveraging the TAACCCT Grant Lead College: Tyler JC

2. Cherie Phipps, Education Director
~established 1921
Primary Focus:
Advancing the Food Industry through Education and Leadership
Cherie Phipps, Education Director
The WAFC is a non-profit organization that was established by a group of key retail leaders in 1921…
The WAFC has an all volunteer board of directors – senior executives, presidents, and CEO’s of major grocery chains in the west. These leaders are very active, attending four WAFC board meetings a year as well as the annual convention, and they regularly volunteer their time and energy to support our mission of “Advancing the Food Industry through Education and Leadership”.

3. Employer Partners National/Regional/Independent
Albertsons
Associated Foods
Independents & Company stores
Basha’s
Bristol Farms
Brookshire Grocery Co.
Coca-Cola
Costco
Kroger
Food 4 Less/Foods Co.
Fred Meyer, Fry’s
King Soopers
Loaf & Jug
QFC, Ralphs, Smith’s
Northgate Gonzalez Markets
Raley’s
Safeway & Vons
Save Mart (& Lucky/Food Maxx)
Smart & Final/Cash & Carry
Stater Bros. Markets
Superior Markets
Unified Grocers
Independent Retailers in multiple states
Whole Foods
WinCo
Importance of having employers at the table; top down leadership vital
Tuition support
Donated instructional space
Commitment to hire well qualified grads

4. Education Depth to Enhance Career Growth
Retail Management Certificate Program
~ established 2000
Education Depth to Enhance Career Growth
Community College level academic program
8 to 10 credit-bearing courses
Developed BY industry, FOR industry
Curriculum founded on standardized competencies (KSA’s)
Relevant/practical content links education to career
Multiple Formats: Online, Hybrid, On campus, Company locations
College Certificate and credit toward Associate degree
Cash honorarium & Certificate awarded by WAFC/Industry
History of WAFC is the Retail Management Certificate Program.
This program was developed collaboratively with several food industry and community college professionals.
Not only do students gain academic college credits, but they are also earn two valuable certificates: from the community college and from the WAFC and their company. WAFC also offers a cash honorarium to graduates at WAFC partner companies.
A key point about this program: The curriculum is designed to build a stronger workforce and fill the succession pipeline. 

5. Courses Linked to Managerial Competencies
Retail Management
Human Resources Mgmt.
Principles of Marketing
Human Relations/Leadership
Principles of Management
Quantitative skills
Accounting/Finance/Math
Computer Skills
Business Communications
Oral/Written/Presentations
Retail Competency Model --U.S. Dept. of Labor
The certificate was designed with the successful store DIRECTOR in mind.
The courses are founded on the COMPETENCIES - KSA’s - correlated with success at the store manager level.
Can't stress enough WHY the RMC works - especially for people who haven't taken many college courses.
It’s practical, relevant curriculum that help your workforce succeed - and help Fry’s succeed. 5

6. HOW THE GRANT CAME TO BE:
Here’s the “centerpiece” of the grant…a COMPETENCY-BASED – INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED – EDUCATION PATHWAY
This tool shows how the Retail Management Certificate helps people advance in on the CAREER PATHWAY into family sustaining wages and careers.
These courses help cultivate leadership and fill the pipeline with skills-specific talent.
Mention Gates Foundation & DOL - GRANT awarded – based on this model

7. Leveraging the Grant Revalidated competencies Enhanced curriculum
Embedding
eliminate developmental courses/accelerate to completion
Stacking & latticing to insure credits apply to other credentials/degrees
Learning’s for CC’s
Need to be more flexible and responsive:
Minimize barriers for returning adults
Dedicated support staff & user friendly enrollment process
Cerritos – broke certificate into 2 chunks – Business Essentials/RMC
Added lattice – HR and T & D

8. DOL Grant Award Facilitates Replication and Scaling
Partner exclusively with Community Colleges - because they are affordable and accessible to all.
The certificate is consistent w/ all partners – 135 partners – curriculum crosswalk
In 2014, WAFC has asked FMI to join forces, in an effort to further scale the program nationally -- both Online and at additional community colleges where need can be established.

9. Leveraging the Grant to Build Strategic Partnerships
Scaling with FMI
National Retail Advisory Council
Additional revalidation of competencies
Scaling to entire retail sector
WGU - Education pathway to Bachelor’s degree
Goodwill & Workforce System
Focus on dislocated workers for the first time
Questions?

10. Retail Management Certificate
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