Lakeyia I.’s Post

How many of us feel like we received quality career advising in school?  Experiences that exposed us to different types of jobs, helped us understand how the skills and knowledge we learned in school would apply in those real world settings, and made clear to us which high school and postsecondary pathways we would need to be on in order to open the doors to those careers? I’m guessing very few. Career advising is a major gap in our schools and making improvements—including starting to explore careers as early as middle school—could have huge payoffs for students. In my latest Forbes column, building on the new report from Education Strategy Group and American Student Assistance, I make the case for putting this work front and center in the efforts to improve our education systems.   https://lnkd.in/e75Ka25c

We have been reflecting on what an enhanced whole new career advising model would look like. How can career services become integrated in academics? This article and the survey show the need for change. The biggest takeaway? 37% of community college students said: "none of their professors have helped them explore potential careers or develop specific skills for their careers, either as part of a class or one-on-one" If at least half of our mission is to prepare students for the workforce, it seems we are failing. #calltoaction #careereducation #communitycolleges #onecollagemodel https://lnkd.in/g3jWsJGj

When we talk about long-term student success, what does that mean? If we want to help more students become fulfilled, economically successful adults who also contribute to a strong workforce and community, we need better, earlier opportunities for students to explore careers, build confidence, and truly understand how to navigate through education to the future of their choosing. Career-focused advising and exploration can help students see the relevance of what they’re doing and learning in school. It can create an “a-ha” moment about a particular career or interest area that can set a student on a clearer path toward their goals. Matt Gandal’s latest piece explores the states that are coupling strong advising with meaningful career exploration. https://lnkd.in/edWy4y5e

Check out Matt Gandal’s latest article on career advising for middle school students. No surprises here, but engaging students earlier in their education on career outcomes will pay off as they navigate educational choices and work towards a fulfilling career later in life!

More than ever, the value of #highereducation is under scrutiny due to ever-rising #tuition costs. #learning does not only happen in #college but also occurs on the job, at trade schools, or even "college of life" – all are relevant and unique pathways to a successful #career. It is critical for the #education system to help #students realize that any certificates or degrees from high schools, training programs, or colleges are not the endpoint; they are just one more milestone toward finding their sense of purpose for meaningful career success. Highlights from the linked post: What do you want to be when you grow up? That's a question high school students have long faced. But these days, students have access to far more information than in the past about what they could do as a job after graduation. That is changing the way students think about whether or not they want to go to college—or when they want to go. Today, students are "asking better questions,” she [Liz Williams, a senior program officer for the Greater Twin Cities United Way] said. “So I actually think there's a lot of wisdom in that skepticism of, ‘I'm not sure college is right for me. I know I'm going to have to take on debt. I have a cousin and a parent who has taken on that type of debt, and I see what that is like.’ They also see adults who maybe don't have debt but hate the work that they do. And so I think that there's this trend toward taking a step back and really thinking about what they want to do, and if it is college, thinking more critically about ‘Why college?' and ‘College for what?" We are reframing education to mean, "What type of life do you want to live?" A high school or college degree is not the endpoint.

More than ever, the value of #highereducation is under scrutiny due to ever-rising #tuition costs. #learning does not only happen in #college but also occurs on the job, at trade schools, or even "college of life" – all are relevant and unique pathways to a successful #career. It is critical for the #education system to help #students realize that any certificates or degrees from high schools, training programs, or colleges are not the endpoint; they are just one more milestone toward finding their sense of purpose for meaningful career success. Highlights from the linked post: What do you want to be when you grow up? That's a question high school students have long faced. But these days, students have access to far more information than in the past about what they could do as a job after graduation. That is changing the way students think about whether or not they want to go to college—or when they want to go. Today, students are "asking better questions,” she [Liz Williams, a senior program officer for the Greater Twin Cities United Way] said. “So I actually think there's a lot of wisdom in that skepticism of, ‘I'm not sure college is right for me. I know I'm going to have to take on debt. I have a cousin and a parent who has taken on that type of debt, and I see what that is like.’ They also see adults who maybe don't have debt but hate the work that they do. And so I think that there's this trend toward taking a step back and really thinking about what they want to do, and if it is college, thinking more critically about ‘Why college?' and ‘College for what?" We are reframing education to mean, "What type of life do you want to live?" A high school or college degree is not the endpoint.

This is why one of the REACH Collaborative pillars is Wrap-around Supportive Services. We need to do a better job of this, especially as we serve as the most direct pipelines to employment in the higher education space. How do we rethink and ensure this knowledge is included in the student journey?

Education systems often prioritize academic content and college preparation, but career guidance is equally important for students' future success. Middle school is an excellent time to introduce career exploration, encourage informed decision-making, and align educational pathways with future aspirations. Starting career exploration in middle school isn't about placing students into specific careers. Instead, it's about making it fun and engaging, exposing them to diverse options, and helping them discover their interests and strengths.  To improve career guidance, states need to prioritize middle school career exploration and support schools in delivering quality advising experiences. By investing in resources, training, and partnerships, education systems can equip students with the tools they need to navigate their educational and career journeys successfully. #Education #CareerGuidance #LEADingforLife

New "Finding Equilibrium" post from Jay Akridge and me. In the coming weeks we are exploring the question of declining public confidence in higher education rooted in concerns about the value of going to college. We introduce the issues today with a focus on career readiness; next up will be a comprehensive series of in depth posts exploring the value of college -- and how to improve it.

"Asked which items from a list of outcomes are most important when it comes to their academic experience, respondents seem to value passion and practicality, along with breadth, relatively equally. Students’ top three priorities are growing their knowledge in a subject area they’re passionate about (49 percent), growing their knowledge in a variety of other subject areas (42 percent) and developing specific skills needed for their careers (41 percent)." Did anyone else dig into this Inside Higher Ed piece yet? It's interesting to think about the implications here re: how students want to interact with their advisors and faculty around career prep. And, for higher ed marketers, this type of student feedback could even impact strategies for communicating around campus career support and employment outcomes in the admissions process (and beyond). 💡 #HigherEdLeadership #HigherEdMarketing #StudentSuccess #SocialListening #HigherEd