04-13-2009, 11:18 PM
I have a totally different suggestion. 40 year old displaced workers are "the" area of expertise for your local community college- so I wouldn't start with the big 3.
Since these workers are local, your local community college already has plans, many free, and are well established. ESPECIALLY if anyone in your population is collecting unemployment benefits. Many times, there is an existing partnership between the larger companies in your city that help funnel workers back into jobs after brief non-credit training. These are jobs earmarked specifically to "graduates" of these training agreements. Other programs are more generic and are essentially short term training without agreements- but your local CC will have a department called something like "(state name) Job Training Program."
For those workers who have never earned college credit before, they will also be able to provide free placement testing, and remediation where needed. Again, sometimes for free if they are collecting unemployment benefits. In addition, if any in the group don't yet have high school diplomas- they can often take GED training for free, and that would be a good first step.
This is an action plan to get laid off workers back to work as soon as possible. This should be a top priority with the 40 year old population. This is a group for which lay-offs can be devastating financially. People in this age group have families and mortgages. They need income ASAP.
Once the immediate emergency is being solved, this is where the CC will fall short is where you come in. The CC is crappy at exploiting the options of credit earning options like CLEP. (they have no real incentive to promote CLEP/DSST) Once the employee has been placed, then I would say you have a ripe opportunity to help them earn their AA/AS or AOS/AAS locally at the CC. Your CC accepts CLEP I'm sure - so for those who show interest, you can really help them shave time, money, and homework off of their schedule! If the CC allows 15 CLEP, then help them choose the best 15 credits. You can explain how they can later take additional CLEP as part of a bachelor's degree if they choose. I'd use an existing AA/AS/AOS/AAS degree plan through the CC in a field closely related to their own goals. If no exact plan matches, management or business are always a good fall back for anyone. I believe that the name recognition of the local community college will help this population 100% more than an obscure Jersey college.
For those working on an AAS or AOS, transferability is strict and limited- that will require your help. For those earning an AA/AS, transfer to TESC BA/BS programs will be smooth and painless. Keep in mind, your population will probably include tradesmen that an AOS/AAS just makes the most sense- but use caution that what seems faster in the front, can be longer on the back end if they want a bachelor's degree at some point.
Power to you!
Since these workers are local, your local community college already has plans, many free, and are well established. ESPECIALLY if anyone in your population is collecting unemployment benefits. Many times, there is an existing partnership between the larger companies in your city that help funnel workers back into jobs after brief non-credit training. These are jobs earmarked specifically to "graduates" of these training agreements. Other programs are more generic and are essentially short term training without agreements- but your local CC will have a department called something like "(state name) Job Training Program."
For those workers who have never earned college credit before, they will also be able to provide free placement testing, and remediation where needed. Again, sometimes for free if they are collecting unemployment benefits. In addition, if any in the group don't yet have high school diplomas- they can often take GED training for free, and that would be a good first step.
This is an action plan to get laid off workers back to work as soon as possible. This should be a top priority with the 40 year old population. This is a group for which lay-offs can be devastating financially. People in this age group have families and mortgages. They need income ASAP.
Once the immediate emergency is being solved, this is where the CC will fall short is where you come in. The CC is crappy at exploiting the options of credit earning options like CLEP. (they have no real incentive to promote CLEP/DSST) Once the employee has been placed, then I would say you have a ripe opportunity to help them earn their AA/AS or AOS/AAS locally at the CC. Your CC accepts CLEP I'm sure - so for those who show interest, you can really help them shave time, money, and homework off of their schedule! If the CC allows 15 CLEP, then help them choose the best 15 credits. You can explain how they can later take additional CLEP as part of a bachelor's degree if they choose. I'd use an existing AA/AS/AOS/AAS degree plan through the CC in a field closely related to their own goals. If no exact plan matches, management or business are always a good fall back for anyone. I believe that the name recognition of the local community college will help this population 100% more than an obscure Jersey college.
For those working on an AAS or AOS, transferability is strict and limited- that will require your help. For those earning an AA/AS, transfer to TESC BA/BS programs will be smooth and painless. Keep in mind, your population will probably include tradesmen that an AOS/AAS just makes the most sense- but use caution that what seems faster in the front, can be longer on the back end if they want a bachelor's degree at some point.
Power to you!
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