The Future of Employability and Living Wage

The Role of the Community College

Presented to theMinnesota Futurists

22 August 2009By Lorna Sherman

Introduction

• Community colleges important role

• Provide certificates, diplomas and associate degrees to fill jobs in the middle labor market

• Middle-skill jobs – Require some training or education beyond

high school, but less than a 4 year degree– Yet will pay family supporting wages

Introduction• Community colleges

– Enroll 45% of college students – Only about 50% of those succeed

• Minnesota– 29 community colleges (10 in metro area)

• Program examples– Veterinary tech., physical therapy assistant,

dental hygienist, environmental science, protection technician, health care services, and replacement for impending retirements of large # of auto repair, welding and electrical power maintenances, construction

http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=034034&RevisionSelectionMethod=latestReleased&Rendition=primary

Minnesota Department of EducationCareer Fields, Clusters and Pathways

Strategy, Planning and Accountability

• Building evidence about employment opportunities based on career fields, clusters and pathways

Distribute data sheets

Cost of Living – Minnesota2006 data

Cost of Living – Minnesota2006 data

Cost of Living – Minnesota2006 data

Community College Represents

An

• affordable,

• accessible route

• to those students who have

• faced significant barriers to success

Open Enrollment

• Serves an essential function

• To those who have attained a diploma but not on track for college level courses.

Under Achievement

• Is related to both – The individual– The institution

MCTC Vision

Minneapolis Community and Technical College has a lofty vision

- to be an institution that transforms its community by educating students who are globally aware, engaged citizens, skillful at their work, and lifelong learners

- and sets high expectations for student and organizational achievement.

http://accountability.minneapolis.edu/home

MCTC Fast Facts

vs. 64% 2007-2008

http://accountability.minneapolis.edu/mctc-student-profile

MCTC Fast Facts

http://accountability.minneapolis.edu/mctc-student-profile

MCTC Fast Facts

http://accountability.minneapolis.edu/mctc-student-profile

MCTC Fast Facts

http://accountability.minneapolis.edu/mctc-student-profile

MCTC Fast Facts

http://accountability.minneapolis.edu/mctc-student-profile

MCTC Fast Facts

http://accountability.minneapolis.edu/mctc-student-profile

MCTC Fast Facts

http://accountability.minneapolis.edu/mctc-student-profile

Question

• What factors influenced your college success?

Creating a Future of Learning

• Education in a rapidly changing world

• Education likely to take place outside traditional institutions

Creating a Future of Learning

• Shifting to a culture of creation

Creating a Future of Learning

• Learners will need guides who will take a fundamentally different role than the present teacher/educator

• Significant cross-cultural intelligence for citizenship and economic leadership

Exploring the ForcesShaping Our World

• Knowledge– Technology produces new kinds of data– Advances in neuroscience– Other medical advances like replacement of

body parts

• Economics– Tools and knowledge of how to produce

custom goods

Exploring the ForcesShaping Our World

• Society– A sense of community and shared world– Global society– Social networking

• Organization– New generation of connected innovative people

• Self– Alter your mind and body in ways we never imagined

http://accountability.minneapolis.edu/documents/HighWageandHighDemandJobsinTwinCitiesRegion2009-2019Scan.pdf?attredirects=0

Future Jobs for Associate Degree

Conclusion

• If the Community College program were more successful, it would help build human capital, narrow disparities by race and income and grow a more robust and diverse American middle class.

Discussion