Building Student Enrollment: Reversing the Student Shortage

National Court Reporters Association

August 2004

Student Enrollment (% Change): 1991-2000

4 1

-12

0

-9-15 -18 -16

-6-9

-25

-5

15

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000% Change

A historical look at the decade-long decline in student enrollment.

Efforts to Reverse Trend

NCRA developed its Education Initiative to attack the inadequate number of realtime reporters to meet current demand and the inadequate number of students entering reporter education programs to supply future needs.

Tactics Used for Reversal

• Student Recruitment• Modernize Curriculum and Teaching

Methods• Direct Assistance to Schools

The Federal Initiative

The Federal Initiative began in 2000 and has proven to be a tremendous success with $10.5 million in federal funding obtained for reporter training programs in the past four years.

The Federal Initiative

• In 2003, we obtained $675,000 for 3 schools

• In 2002, we obtained $3.575 million in grant money for 6 schools

• In 2001, we obtained $5.75 million in grant money for 14 schools

• In 2000, we obtained $500,000 for a pilot/demonstration program at the University of Mississippi

The Federal Initiative

NCRA is currently assisting 40 reporter-training programs with earmarks to seek funding for next year’s budget.

We Haven’t Stopped There

NCRA has been lobbying to pursue passage of the Training for Realtime Writers Act (S.480 and H.R. 970) to obtain $60 million federal funding over three years for current students and veteran reporters looking to enhance their realtime training capacity.

What Does This Funding Have to Do With Freelancers/Officials?

• Legislative mandate for captioning and CART creates legal basis for federal funding

• Variety of career options makes realtime more attractive to students

• Increased number of realtime writers will benefit all sectors of the profession

Turning the Corner

3

19

17.5

0

5

10

15

20

25

2001 2002 2003

% Change

NCRA’s efforts are beginning to reverse some of the negative trends of the past few years. Enrollments at NCRA-approved programs are up by almost 25 percent.

How We’ve Gotten There

• Improved the quality of realtime reporter education programs by training school faculty onsite and at Teachers’ Workshops

• Prepared three online seminars for schools on how to improve their recruiting activities

• Conducted a free one-day seminar for schools on recruiting tactics

• Developed a complete package of materials for any school interested in starting a reporting program

How We’ve Gotten There (cont.)

• Placed hundreds of career articles in newspapers and magazines

• Worked closely with the Bureau of Labor Statistics to ensure the description in the Occupational Outlook Handbook is accurate

• Placed print advertisements in national magazines and five national cable TV channels, including CNN, which has resulted in more than 11,000 leads on prospective students

• Offered an online community of support through the Virtual Mentors Program

Summit on Student Education

Debuting this Fall, NCRA will bring the best minds within the profession together for a Summit on Student Education.

Summit on Student Education

• Enhance the quality and quantity of students entering and completing their education

• Improve theories• Elevate the academic standards of schools,

regardless of specialties taught• Increase apprenticeships and other programs

to ease the transition from school to work• Increase our understanding as to why

students hit plateaus

For more information on NCRA’s efforts to combat the issue of student shortages contact msic@ncrahq.org.