fall 2013 conference keynote presentation-dr. linda gross
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Linda Gross, Ph.D
What Placement Means,
How to Claim it with Integrity, and Build Metrics to
Support Your Work September 13, 2013 Valparasio, Indiana
© 2013
1. Data a. Downer b. Dread c. Distress d. Delight
2. Placement a. Panic b. Phobia c. Paranoia d. Pleasure
3. Statistics a. Stress b. Suffering c. Sweat d. Sensational
4. Annual Report a. Angst b. Anxiety c. Apprehension d. Amusement
A little self assessment
An Ostrich Lesson
Contexts & Challenges
Complaints about college ROI rise as a YouTube genre
• Return on investment (ROI) concerns – How can we measure the value of a college education?
• Economic pressures
– Rapid tuition and fee inflation – Erosion of public funding for state institutions – Rising institutional costs (health care) – Market competitiveness
• Increased need for public accountability
– Student debt load and loan default – Completion rates – Gainful employment – High profile scandals both public, private and for profit
What is driving the placement data obsession?
New York Times, May 3, 2013
Are college graduates more likely to be unemployed?
What may begin as an honest error, however, has a way of evolving through almost imperceptible steps from self-delusion to fraud. The line between foolishness and fraud is thin. Because it is not always easy to tell when that line is crossed, I use the term voodoo science to cover them all…
(Page 10)
Is placement data Voodoo Science?
The Problems with “Placement”
• Antiquated Terminology • Methodology
– Contrived formulas designed to yield the highest placement rate
– No consistency between institutions – Even the NCES has been reluctant to define a universal
methodology
• Fraud – Career Education Corporation $10.3 million fraud settlement
for inflating job placement data – ATI Enterprises (a career training company) will pay the federal
government $3.7 million to resolve compliance issues with federal aid and job placement data
Toward a Better Paradigm
• Methodology • Clear definition of the
survey population • Response rates • Practicality
– data mining and ethical judgment
• Timing • Clear definition of terms
– What is placed? – What is unplaced? – What about those we can’t
resolve
The Power of Transparency
Michigan State University Destination Survey
A Case Example
Owning our knowledge What goes into a student’s
post-graduation destination?
Study Abroad
Supervised civic
engagement
Leadership in a non-
professional organization
Scholarly research
with faculty
Internationa Internship
Faculty supervised
applied research
project with company
Leadership in a professional organization
Internships
What counts with employers?
Gardner, P. (2011) Recruiting Trends, Collegiate Employment Research Institute, Michigan State University
Student Activities
Academics
Service
Internships
Work
Daily living stuff
Social life
Family
Finances
Study Abroad
Reflective Learning Model
• Academic courses
• Internships, co-ops, practica, service
• Leadership experiences
• Study abroad
• Life events & relationships
LEARNING CATALYSTS
• Self awareness
• Skill identification
• Critical thinking
• Decision-making
• Learning
REFLECTION • Articulating growth &
skill development
• Boundary spanning problem solving
• Ability to contribute
• Transition awareness
INTEGRATION
Gross, L. (2000) Michigan State University
We are stewards of student experiences
Spanning boundaries with purpose and integrity
Passionate people take risks.
• Insight into what students find meaningful
• Working knowledge of employer expectations for new graduates
• Ability to identify gaps in student preparation for their destination upon graduation
We have unique assets to integrate, innovate and advance higher education
Harnessing the Power of Big Data
What kind of data are you sitting on? • Student usage of career
services – Counseling – Workshops – Career fair attendance – Interviews – Information sessions – Job applications
• Student employment data
– Hours worked – Level of responsibility – Pay rates – Work study – Internships
• Student destination data
College or Department
Career
Counseling
Career
Assessment
Workshops
Career Fairs
Job Listings
Job
Applications
Interviews
Arts
Business
Education
Engineering
Health
Sciences
Social Sciences
Practical Accountability – Real Time
• Institutional student information systems – Student demographics – Academic data – Retention data – Financial need – Academic internship
courses – Civic engagement
participation – Study abroad
participation – Undergraduate research
What data do you have/need access to?
A Model for Multidimensional Measures
Multidimensional Measures for College Outcomes
Aggregate
Student Data Warehouse
Student Interactions Counseling, Workshops, Career
Fairs, Interviews, Career Assessments
Student Experiences
Student Employment, Leadership, Civic Engagement, Research, Internships, Co-ops,
Study Abroad
Student Learning Outcomes
Curricular , Co-Curricular and support services
Student Academic and Demographic Data
(Institutional Student Information Systems)
Student Destination Data
Follow up Alumni Data
© Gross, L. (2013)
ADVOCATE!
Colleges and universities MUST be more explicit about co-curricular
learning expectations
The Ostrich Revisited
• MSU Destination Survey online: – http://careernetwork.msu.edu/exploring-
options/destination-survey.html – Includes latest full report as .pdf and links to sections of
the report including methodology, survey pool, timing, and terms definitions.
• MSU Collegiate Employment Research Institute – http://www.ceri.msu.edu/ – Publications include the “high states internship” and
“unpacking” http://www.ceri.msu.edu/ceri-publications/
Resources