© CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Career Challenge Day: The Personal Career Journey

© CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Agenda

Introductions Where is Fayette County, Pa?

Demographics of Region – Population Decline Community Profile Labor/Industry Information

Collaboration and Community What is Career Challenge Day? Carmichaels High School: A Case Study Best Practices/Lessons Learned

© CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Meet the Challenge Day Team

Gina Jones, MPA MSW GCDF

• Expertise: Career

Development and

Community Organizing

(10 years experience)

• Education: Penn State University

and University of

Pittsburgh

Scott Nemeth, MS• Expertise: Recruitment

and Retention (7+

years experience)• Education:

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

and West Virginia

University

Michael A. Jones, MSW

• Expertise: Career

Development and Clinical

Social Work (3+ years

experience) • Education:

Seton Hill University

and California University of Pennsylvania

© CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Where is Fayette County, Pa?

Labor and Industry

Literacy and Educational Attainment

Family Profiles (Female Headed Households and

Poverty)

PSU Student Profile and Recruitment

© CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Where is Fayette County, Pa?2000 Census report Fayette County - 148,644 Greene County - 40,672 Total =269539 Somerset County – 80,023

2010 Census Report Fayette County – 136,606 Greene County – 38686 Total = 253,034 Somerset County – 77,742

In a 10 year period this region’s population has diminished by 16,305 persons. This is an average yearly loss of 1630.5 persons. Fayette Campus presently has a little fewer than 900 students, compared to 2003 when the campus enrollment was 1,156.

© CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Community Profile

Family Profiles

Educational Attainment

Literacy

Labor and Industry Unemployment Rate remains higher than

national average (consistently) Major Industries: PA’s Career Clusters –

Healthcare, Technical, and Trades

© CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Population Trends: PSU Fayette’s Recruiting Region

2000 20100

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

FayetteSomersetGreene

(c) CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Student Profile at Penn State Fayette

PERCENT OF STUDENTS WITH UNDECIDED MAJORS

DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AT PENN STATE

Unive

rsity

Par

k0

2000

4000

# of Undecided Ma-jors

# of Unde-cided Majors

Natio

nal

Penn

Sta

te U

nive

rsity

0

6

12

% of Students

% of Students

(c) CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Activity

Does your department utilize students to provide effective services?

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/LTIwMzczMzA0Ng

 In your current role, do you collaborate with other units outside of your department?

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/MTI2ODIwMDAxOQ

Is there a collaboration between your department and the community?

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/LTIxNDMzNDc3ODQ

© CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Collaboration and Community

Campus Collaborati

on

Service to the

Community

Leaders taking the Challenge

(c) CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Inter-Campus Collaboration

Jason Broadwater, DSES

Click Here

(c) CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

What is Career Challenge Day? Initial Proposal and Inspiration (2010 -2011): All over the country, educators, administrators,

and elected officials are projecting a significant increase in drop-out rates for high school students. In an effort to help deter the projected drop-out increase for Fayette County, Penn State Fayette will host local educators, counselors, and administrators for a training institute in the Spring. (flyer sent to local school districts)

Rebecca Dedmond, Freshmen Transition Initiative United Way of Westmoreland County

(c) CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

What is Career Challenge Day?Evolving Project (2010-2012)

When did you create your last career plan? What if you had the chance to meet with someone who is achieving the goal you have? What if you “really knew” what it took to get to the top? Based on the premise of MTV’s hit show, “If You Really Knew Me…,” Penn State Fayette launched Career Challenge Day (CCD) in six local high schools during the 2010-2011 academic year. During CCD, high school students will work in informal, informational “pods” facilitated by CCD Mentors (university students). Within each pod, students will discover career options by participating in activities and meeting with employers and Penn State Alumni.

Goals of CCD: The goal of Career Challenge Day is to implement a proactive approach for the successful

matriculation of students through college via active participation career development. Career Challenge Day is one element of a collaborative relationship with six local high schools, employers, and alumni in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Additional elements include:

Offer FREE to low-cost nationally accredited career development trainings to school teachers, guidance counselors, and administration (ACT 48 credits); trainings will provide participants with the skill set to integrate career development into courses and develop new strategies to meet the PA Career Work Standards

Solicit and maintain participation of university students as CCD Peer Mentors; students will participate in 5 career development trainings and CCD events and earn Career Development Leadership Certificate

Long-term Goal: work with administrators to match high school exit standards with post-secondary entrance standards

Career Challenge Day is an optimal chance for students to interactively engage with their peers, college students, alumni, and employers in an informal setting. So often we present Career Development information in a lecture setting, that we forget what it felt like to be unsure or unaware of the opportunities available to us. Learning about ourselves through the experiences of our “past” (employers, mentors, alumni) is the best way to celebrate our “future!” The best way for students to get to their next destination is to ask directions!

(c) CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Carmichaels High School: A Case Study

(c) CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Carmichaels High School: A Case Study

Student Experiences

Corey VanSickle, Guidance Counselor

Click Here Click Here

(c) CCD: 2012 Careers Conference Presentation, 01/31/12

Best Practices/Lessons Learned

Collaborate, Collaborate, Collaborate Patience is a Virtue

Great ideas may take some time to implement

There is NO BOX…Leverage Resources! Department Partnerships Cross-Campus Partnerships Community Partnerships▪ People want to help; give them an

opportunity to do so