Triple the SuccessNontraditional Students, Universities and Employers Working Together through PLACAEL 2012 International ConferenceNovember 8, 2012

Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ InitiativeMaine Employers’ Initiative (MEI) is a project

of the Maine Development Foundation (MDF)MDF is a private, non-profit, non-partisan

organization with a broad mandate to build a long term vision for a sustainable economy in ME

A key to economic growth is education:◦ ME is near the national average in degree

attainment but lags behind NE◦ Low per capita income, declining traditional age

student populations, oldest state in the nation The workforce we have now is the workforce we will have

for the future

Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ InitiativeEmployers are critical to increasing degree

attainment in MEProgram Mechanics:

◦ Program began in 2007 (Lumina Foundation support)

◦ Employers complete an on line needs assessment◦ Employers complete a commitment letter

outlining the “one more step” they will take to support education and development in the workplace (this could take the form of workshops, meetings with employees, development of career plans, allowing time off for class, tuition support, etc)

Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ InitiativeProgram Additions:

◦ Working with specific regions to focus our efforts

◦ Tuition incentives from higher education (6 institutions)

◦ Hosting/organizing “employers briefings” with partner organizations to bring business/higher education together

◦ Designed a web site and marketing campaign for adult students

◦ Scholarship program

Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ InitiativePartners:

◦ 26 member advisory council representing employers, workforce investment, higher education, adult education, human resources

◦ Major partners: Higher education, larger employers in ME, Society for Human Resource Mgt (state council and 7 regional chapters), Adult Education Association

◦ Current participation: 145 Employers reaching over 60,000 employees

Triple the Success: Survey Tool and Process for JoiningEmployer is recruited by MEI or partner to

complete the survey; follow up in person meeting is set; commitment letter is completed at the meeting

Survey monkey on line tool – takes 10 min or less◦ Is shorter than original◦ -More general about educational supports (not just

degree completion)◦ Added questions about shortages and skill needs to try

to assess specific needsOne page letter of commitment which outlines

change company will make, timeline, and # of employees impacted

Triple the Success: History and Background of Maine Employers’ Initiative

After joining: Individual press release is sent outRecognized at an event each yearListed on the MEI website and

associate materials as membersOn going assistance to implementBroker Meetings with PLA expertShare sample policies, materials for

employees, etc.

Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – What Works and What Doesn’tCEO or HR director best place to start – need to

assess whether buy in from the top is needed to get assistance from HR; sometime HR has autonomy and can be the decision maker

HR is a critical player as they know policies and will be the implementers

Referrals are best to identify companies – Asking HR or others who know people in the company to set up meetings (and join MEI for the visit) is more effective than cold calling

Come prepared with laptop and survey so that first step can happen at the meeting

Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – What Works and What Doesn’tImportant to market to employers that

they can become known as an “education committed” employer – positive marketing works, recognition events work (all as incentives for employers to join)

Trickiest part: getting past the employer and to the employees – Ideally, set this up right away when the employer commits (figure out a follow up plan and timeline)

Ongoing communication is key – continue the relationship

Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – What Works and What Doesn’tWhat We Hear When We Visit:

◦ Time Constraints◦ Concern that if employees go back to

school, they will leave◦ Cost – to join the program or need to

support tuition assistance (if they don’t already)

◦ Feel that employees already have degrees◦ Need technical skills and certifications, not

degrees

Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – Predicators of SuccessLeadership – an active champion in

the companyCulture – Look for companies and

businesses that are growingDemographics – Identify companies

with a large employee base that isn’t likely to have degrees

Triple the Success: Employer Relationship – What we would do differentlyEmployee surveys – Need better information

from the employees themselves – work with employers to conduct an employee survey, add in functionality to sign up for workshops on the spot

College/education coach – Ask each company to appoint a point person for the program

Always have a completed survey before the meeting

Better name/better marketing – MEI needed better branding at the start!

Context – should be part of a broader statewide initiative

Triple the Success: MEI – Next StepsNext Step Maine Website

◦ Venue for communicating with non-traditional students

◦ Serve as a focal point for statewide marketing campaign to raise the profile of adult learning

◦ Reduce the information barrier for adult studentsScholarship Fund

◦ Employers give $1000 to a scholarship fund for “employees of promise” (to be nominated by employers)

◦ Engages employers in the process of encouraging employees to take the next step

◦ Will be awarding ten $1000 scholarships this year and profiling them on the Next Step Maine website

Triple the Success: MEI – Next Steps

Cap the Employers in the Network and Focus on Getting to the Employees◦ Big challenge: providing enough attention

to employers with one staff person◦ Plan is to cap the program to provide more

value to existing employers◦ Add the metric of documenting the actual

students going back to school or reaching their educational goals (rather than the number of employers in the network)

Triple the Success: Prior Learning Credit at the University of Southern Maine (USM)

PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT AT USM

Earn Credit for What You Know

Triple the Success: Prior Learning Credit at the University of Southern Maine (USM)

About the University of Southern Maine: Is a northern New England

comprehensive public university Has three campuses – Portland,

Gorham, and Lewiston-Auburn Offers baccalaureate, master’s, and

doctoral programs Serves just under 10,000 students Has an average student age of 26

Triple the Success: University of Southern MainePrior Learning Assessment (PLA)

is a process created for you to demonstrate your college-level expertise and knowledge in a particular field, so you can be placed into college courses or earn college credit

Triple the Success: University of Southern MaineTheory and Practice can be gained

through: Independent Study Personal Interest or Reading Volunteer Work Non-College Work Experience Courses On-the-job Training or Apprenticeships Workshops or Professional

Development

Triple the Success: University of Southern Maine – Types of PLA Credit by Examination CLEP (College Level Examination Program) DSST (Dantes – Defense Activity for Non-

Traditional Education) Challenge Exams (for USM students) AP (Advanced Placement Exams) IB (International Baccalaureate) NYU (Language Exams) Credential Review Military Service Portfolio

Triple the Success: University of Southern Maine – Credits Needed for a Degree

Three types of credits from which to choose when completing an undergraduate degree at USM:

General Educational Requirements (CORE)Major Requirements (Course specific)General Electives (GEL)

At least 120 credits required to graduate PLA process offers all 3 credit possibilities

Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and the University of Southern Maine (USM)

Education and Work Place Partnership

Supporting “One More Step”

Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USM

Integrating USM’s PLA and Work Place Learning

with

Joint Appearances with

Maine Employers’ Initiative

Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USMWorkshops: Westbrook Community Center

Multiple-Campus Information Brunch WEX (Wright Express) General Dynamics Career Centers Goodwill Industries PowerPay

Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USMWorkplace Training Programs:

Insurance Banking Maine Roads to Quality Mental and Behavioral Health

Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USM

Triple the Success: Maine Employers’ Initiative and USM

Triple the Success: University of Maine SystemPrior Learning Assessment exists, in

some form, on all campusUniversity of Southern Maine (USM)

and University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) have all elements of PLA including portfolio assessment

UMS has convened a Task Force to present recommendations related to a consistent approach to PLA systemwide

Triple the Success: University of Maine SystemAgree to adopt PLA best practices as

stated by CAELTransportability of credit

◦ Agree to accept all PLA options (standardized testing, credential reviews, military credits, academic portfolios) for course equivalent credits that are listed in the Transfer Equivalency matrix of the UMS as direct course equivalent transfer credits

For more information: Rosa Redonnett, Chief Student Affairs

Officer, University of Maine System; Co-Chair, Maine Employers’ Initiative Advisory Committee, rosar@maine.eduhttp://www.mdf.org/mei_overview.php

Joyce Lapping, Director of Prior Learning Assessment, University of Southern Maine, jlapping@maine.eduhttp://www.usm.maine.edu/pla