Pathways for Dislocated Workers

1. Pathways for Dislocated Workers Conference Track: Best Practices in Workforce and Economic DevelopmentSession Information: 1:30pm – 2:30pm October 16, 2013Room: Milwaukee

2. Pathways for Dislocated Workers Presenters Dr. Jo Alice Blondin President Clark State Community College Mr. Richard Harris Chief Student Officer Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus Sandra Cheffer Chief Fiscal Officer Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus

3. Pathways for Dislocated Workers Overview: Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus response to community need Economic climate/need Institution’s capacity to respond Partners involved Program Implementation and Duplication Replication At Other Institutions

4. Economic Climate • Regional economic profile – Ft. Smith, AR 2007 • 300,000 residents in the metro area (7 counties) • Number 6 City in the Nation for Cost of Doing Business according to Forbes Magazine • 83% High School Diplomas • 20% Bachelor’s Degrees • Median household income: $32,000 • Median family income: $41,960 • Ozark, AR is the home of ATU-Ozark, a town of 3,500 people, and located approximately 35 miles from Ft. Smith • Who was Whirlpool • Largest employer in Ft. Smith area • 5,000 good-paying jobs at its peak in 2003 • Permanently closed its doors 6/29/2012

5. ATU-Ozark Ability and Willingness to Respond • Mission-driven institution • Technical education is the primary focus • 2007 • Enrollment of 550 students • 13 Programs of Study • Practical Nursing program was accepting 80 students per year (40 Fall, 40 Spring)

6. Agency Partnerships • Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) • Under the US Department of Labor • Came into being under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and was first proposed by President Kennedy to assist US workers who lost their jobs to foreign trade • According to the Department of Labor Statistics, the average worker receiving TAA benefits has no education beyond high school, is from a manufacturing sector, and is 46 years of age. • Workers who qualify are able to receive: • training that will improve their work skills in order to find new employment. (improve marketability). • Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) • Travel allowance

7. Agency Partnerships • Arkansas Department of Workforce Services • Manage TAA funding for the State of Arkansas • Case Management • Retraining • Job placement • Execute contracts for both individual students and partnerships with schools.

8. 2010 TAA Statistical Data and Comparison (most recent statistics) • Arkansas Data • 32 Petitions certified • 2,350 estimated workers covered • $26,139,860 awarded to Arkansas • Oklahoma • 17 Petitions certified • 833 estimated workers covered • $10,605,276 awarded to Oklahoma • Mississippi • 17 Petitions certified • 1,876 estimated workers covered • $8,887,095 awarded to Mississippi

9. 2010 TAA Statistical Data and Comparison

10. Agency Partnerships • Workforce Investment Act of 1998 • Enacted to replace the Job Training Partnership Act from 1982 • Purpose is to initiate private sector response to support job training efforts in communities. • Workforce Investment Board (WIB) • Instituted to manage the Arkansas Workforce Act • Created local board that combine public and private entities to support job training efforts within the communities. • Facilitated the partnership between DWS and ATU-Ozark that established the unique TAA Nursing Program. • Arkansas Workforce Centers provide locally developed and operated services linking employers and jobseekers through a statewide system. “One-stop" centers are designed to eliminate the need to visit different locations. (insert link – definition ) • WAEDA • Western Arkansas Employment Development Agency • Funded through WIB • Services include job placement support and direct financial assistance directly to students (supplement to TAA funding) • Insert web link for cited information • Adult Education • assisted to improve college readiness for many dislocated workers.

11. Partnership Collaboration • DWS initiated contact with the Ozark Campus through the WIB • Ozark Campus created partnership with local hospitals to assist in program delivery. • Classroom space • Clinical rotations • Contract was proposed between DWS and ATU-Ozark to create, implement and deliver a Practical Nursing program for dislocated workers within an accelerated timeframe.

12. Financing the Program • Calculate total grant funds • Program Costs • Instruction (salaries, benefits) • Student tuition, fees, books and supplies • Facilities costs such as rent and utilities • Equipment • Other expenses to students * • Indirect Cost rate not charged • Contract was written, vetted and signed

13. TAA Practical Nursing Program Implementation • Recruitment of students • Remove students’ barriers • Eliminated competition with non-TAA Practical Nursing applicants • Student preparation • Admissions, Testing and Financial Aid • Intensive advising sessions • Condensed the academic program from three full semesters to one calendar year • Identified and hired new faculty

14. TAA Program Outcomes and Lessons Learned • How to manage the class and students • Ensuring college readiness • Program Location • Program requirement changes – platform courses • Faculty Roles – balance the instruction • How to structure the funding model • Changed end of program course requirements to improve board examination pass rates • Focus to improve program outcomes and ensure student success • Used Perkins funds to purchase materials and software, and integrated this instruction into the curriculum

15. TAA Program Outcomes and Lessons Learned (continued) • Successful implementation of first program led to interest in subsequent programs • Since 2006 – total of four TAA programs • Created additional slots just for TAA workers • Three Nursing cohorts • One Air Conditioning and Refrigeration cohort • 17 students entered and completed the program • Employment data is not available at this time • All from layoffs and facility closure in the manufacturing sector • Also proposed a Welding program; funding not approved • From January 2007 – July 2010 • 54 students entered program, 49 graduated, 45 found employment • Amended the program and contract each time – as mentioned in previous slides

16. TAA Program Duplication • Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus exceled at fulfilling the goals of the contract and the needs and expectations of the students • Benefits to DWS • Reducing the long-term cost of dislocated workers • Retraining costs for one year versus unemployment and TRA benefits for up to 30 months • Getting workers back into the workforce in a timely manner • Creating opportunities for dislocated workers that did not otherwise exist • Allowed WIB to fulfill its mission by leveraging private and public entities to meet local employment needs.

17. Replication At Other Institutions • Evaluate the economic climate • Awareness of the economy in the region and in the state • Are there any company layoffs or closings, or other job losses • Adopt a collaborative mentality • Be sensitive , availability to the community, be a willing partner, be willing to allocate the resources to respond to the need – this will need support from all levels of the institution, • Identify the needs in the service area where education, government and economic uncertainty can be combined to benefit the workforce. How can the institution adapt to the environment? • What sectors of the economy are lacking a qualified workforce? • Seek Agency/funding partnerships • Position your institution to be able to enlist help. Start now; if you are not already involved in those partnerships, seek them. • Develop Program Timeline • Curriculum • Create accessibility for education but do not compromise academic integrity • Facilities • Establish a contract • Clear goals and responsibilities • Proper funding: funding – the money is there – need to access it – don’t be afraid to ask • Focus on program retention, completion, and employment • Celebrate and publicize successes

18. Reach for New Heights

19. Pride in Success