Delivering a Quality Workforce for a

Knowledge-based Economy

National Governors Association

Workforce Development Policy Forum

November 29, 2000 ~ Dearborn, MI

William A. Sederburg, President Ferris State University

• Former state senator

• Currently President of

Ferris State University

• Co-chair of the Partnership

for Career Decision-making

Why the Topic of Workforce Development is of Interest to Me

First, A Little About FSU

• Ferris Institute founded by Woodbridge Ferris in 1884

• Autonomous, not part of a state system

• Career-oriented, opportunity mission

• 9,000 students; 70% of Freshmen enroll in two-year programs

• 122 degree programs; associates through doctorate

• 98% placement rate

Topics for Conversation

• Information Age

• Higher Education Policy Issues

• Workforce Development Partnership

• Policy Recommendations

• Agriculture- in 1900, 80% of employees- were farmers or household servants

• Industrial- in 1940, over 50% of Michigan workers were employed in manufacturing

• Information- in 1990, over 33% of Michigan workers were in information processing while only 14% were employed in manufacturing

Three Economic WavesAlvin Toffler

• Amount of data doubles every two years

• Intelligence delivered by integration of data

• Increased networking of data sources and analysts

Information is the Natural Resource of the Third Wave

Harlan Cleveland

The Information Age Needs the Knowledge Worker

• Agricultural Age needed manual workers- Add value by physical labor

• Industrial Age needed manufacturing workers - Add value by transforming natural resources into machines and by strength

• Information Age needs knowledge workers-Add value by what workers know

Peter Drucker

The Knowledge Worker

• Wealth created by knowledge

• Combine manual and intellectual ability

• Skills and knowledge are individually held

• Emphasis on team work

• Continuous learning- Peter Drucker

Higher Education Issues Facing the U.S.

• Two markets drive decisions•Industrial demand for “trained people”•Student demand for “credits and degrees”

• Funding mechanisms favor liberal arts•Technology intensive ed. is expensive•Instructor & 25 students = profit

• Universities are expected to set standards for information infrastructure

• Workforce development is a major variable available to state policymakers (in contrast to cash, natural resources, transportation, etc.)

• Public understands that the key to a good life is education

• Acquisition of wealth is tied to the availability of talent

Why this is a major political issue!Workforce

Development

• Need for coherent workforce development process (Gov. Engler strategy)

• Disconnect between personal interests and need of the state’s economic development

• Education system has not been successful• Voc-Ed track is stigmatized• General Ed track is going nowhere• College track is shifting responsibility

Implications for Policymakers

Workforce

Development

Too Much Leakage in the Career Training Funnel

Almost All 9th graders Enter

88% graduate from High School

58% complete some Postsecondary Education

28% complete a Bachelors Degree

6% complete MA or more

Completion rates of 25-29 year-olds Source: National Center for Education Statistics

42% do not participate in

post-secondary education

• It is estimated that 20% of students entering college are “career undecided”

• 50-60% of college students change their major at least once

• 40% of college students drop out after one year

Colleges Don’t Earn an “A” in Workforce Development

• The goal: To better understand how teenagers make decisions about potential careers

• Partners from industry, health care, government, state associations, other education providers

• Four surveys conducted: parents of middle-high school students, students, educators, and students again

Partnership for Career Decision Making

6

41

46

62

20

75

2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

High school Technicalprogram

College Undecided

Education option

Most children

My child

“Not My Child” Michigan parents like education alternatives,

except for their own childrenPercent of parents responding that particular levels of education

are necessary, "most children" versus "my child" (n=450)

Percent

Observation #1

010203040

5060708090

Best Jobs Require4Yrs of College

Vocational JobTraining has

Stigma

Jobs Requiringonly Vocational

Training Are LessPrestigous

Parents

Educators

Students

Per

cen

t A

gree

Stigma Attached to Technical EducationObservation #2

Results compiled from

Student, Educator, &

Parent surveys

Have good skills

12.6%

Like kids8.2%

Interested in subject43.2%

Family tradition4.1%

Likes the outdoors1.6%

Other0.3%

Available at local college0.6%

Doesn't require college1.9%

Want to help people6.0%

Uses best subjects6.9%

Pays well6.9%

Jobs available7.6%

Source: Ferris State University

Student Survey: What are the main reasons you are interested in your particular field of choice?

(n=317)

Students Base Career Choices on Personal Interests & Skills, Not Practicalities

Observation #3

Career Fields StudentsBelieve Offer the Greatest

Opportunity(Student Survey; n = 450)

Top Career Fields Students are Pursuing or are Interested

in Pursuing(Student survey; n = 364)

Computers 32%

Health Care 12%

Business 8%

Engineering 7%

Education 6%

Manufacturing 3%

Health Care 17%

Education 16%

Computers 7%

Business 6%

Engineering 6%

Law 6%

Military Service 3%

Science 3%

Design 2%

Communications 2%

A disconnect exists between careers young people plan to pursue and careers in which

they see the greatest opportunity.

Students Emphasize Interest Over Opportunity

Teacher 30%

Counselor 19%

No one 45%

Other 2% Undecided 2%

Administrator 2%

Career Guidance: A Void Exists

Observation #4

Student Survey: Would you say that a particular person in high school was a

mentor or especially helpful in advising you

on career options or options to further your

education? (n = 450)

Counselor15%

Teacher20%

No one55%

Undecided6%

Other person2%

Administrator2%

Parent Survey:Is there a person at your child's school

who has served as a mentor or been

especially helpful in advising your child on career of job options?

(n=450)

However, 56% of Educators believe they play a very important career guidance role

35

5 4

8

48

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Directly Somewhat Less thancounselor

Same ascounselor

Undecided

Per

cen

t

Source: Ferris State UniversityParent Survey: How directly involved have you been in helping your child plan for a career? (n=450)

Big Name Schools are Perceived to be more “Career Oriented”

School Percent of Parents who Regardthe College as One of Three

‘Most Career Oriented’University of Michigan 34%Michigan State University 28%Wayne State University 8%Western Michigan University 6%Central Michigan University 5%Ferris State University 4%Eastern Michigan University 4%Northern Michigan University 4%Grand Valley State University 2%Oakland University 2%University of Detroit 1%

Observation #5

Parent Survey: Which colleges or universities in Michigan are

the most career-

oriented? (n=450)

School Percent of Educators who Regardthe College as One of Three

‘Most Career Oriented’Michigan State University 16%University of Michigan 14%Ferris State University 10%Eastern Michigan University 4%Michigan Technological 4%Wayne State University 4%Western Michigan University 4%Central Michigan University 3%Grand Valley State University 2%

Educator Survey: Which colleges

or universities in Michigan are the

most career-oriented?

(n=450)

Big Name Schools (plus FSU) are Perceived to be more “Career Oriented”

1. Create marketing/image campaigns for jobs requiring vocational/technical training

*State initiatives to expose students, parents, and teachers to career options

*Keep students’ interests in mind, not just the salary level and job opportunities

*Goal should be to create conversation partners

Recommendations

2. Accept public judgment about the role of four year colleges* Help colleges develop career decision making

programs* Improve articulation processes among colleges

* Create more college credit options at the senior school level* Restructure higher ed. to create more career options

Recommendations

3. Improve K-12 Education System* Place greater emphasis on essential skills and

critical thinking skills at the K-12 level* Empower (and fund) career/educational counselors * Utilize summer to increase students’ and teachers’

exposure to choices (summer career camps)* Prioritize vo-tech teacher education

Recommendations

4. Facilitate Partnerships with Industry * Summer camps for career exposure * Industry mentors * Scholarships for targeted programs * Adopt-a-school programs * Internships & work experiences * Equipment and facilities * Work to capture the college aftermarket

Recommendations

5. Create Integrated State Policy Systems* Workforce Development Boards & Educational

Advisory Groups* Supporting career information database systems

* Financial aid for technical programs * Relax tuition reimbursement regulations

* Developing leadership for the knowledge worker

Recommendations

For more information about the Partnership for Career Decision-Making, visit:

http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/administration/president/partners/