A student asked me what all this Dream Catcher stuff was about. Between the many banners and students in some programs getting “special treatment,” the awareness of Dream Catchers has been raised, but without much explanation to students. Duh, why didn’t I think of that and make sure that we were communicating with all students? After all, Dream Catchers is all about ensuring that every learner can catch his or her dream.
About two and a half years ago, the college embarked on the quest to increase the number of learners who complete their program. Only about 45% of our students were completing their degree or certificate within three years. While this is well above the national benchmark of 28%, it is not good enough. This is especially true in a world where increasingly engaging in a career that pays a family sustaining wage requires education beyond high school. I shared the following information at the recent Career and Technical Education Summit held by the Green Bay Area Public School System:
· In 2010 in order to achieve the national median weekly earnings (approximately $35,000/year in this area) you needed some college or an associate degree.
· If you have only a high school diploma you can expect to earn only 80% of the national median and if you have no high school diploma only 55%.
· In 1973, a high school degree or less would qualify you for 72% of all jobs.
· By 2007 this number had dropped to 41%.
· In 1973, 12% of jobs required college but less than a four-year bachelor’s degree.
· By 2007 the percentage of jobs requiring less than a bachelor’s degree but more than a high school diploma had risen to 27%.
· There is little to no upward career mobility without some college education.
· Holding an associate degree or post-secondary diploma reduces the chance of long term unemployment.
· In 2010, with overall unemployment at 8.2%, those having only a high school diploma experienced a 10+% rate of unemployment while those with an associate degree or a post-secondary diploma experienced a 7% rate of unemployment.
Bottom line? NWTC, along with you as a learner, will do everything we can to make sure that you successfully complete your program of study. That is what Dream Catchers is all about.
To that end the following initiatives are underway or being developed:
· Mandatory placement in pre-requisite prepared learner courses for those needing additional help in math, reading, or communications
· Revamping prepared learner courses so students can enter and exit quickly and stay on track to complete their program
· Requiring mandatory orientation
· Hiring licensed counselors to address learner issues such as depression, drug and alcohol abuse, family problems, and other mental and behavioral challenges students face as they attempt to complete their program
· Student engagement activities
· Intrusive academic advising
· Increased tutoring services
· The development of an academic success center
· New and expanded learning and instructional techniques
· More student touch
Watch for future blogs that will provide more detail on each of these initiatives.
While you may not know what all of these initiatives mean for you, know that they are all have the same aim – making sure you achieve your dream! Together, with your hard work and our strong support and instruction, you can start or progress in a career that excites and financially supports you.