Escalating Engagement: State Policy to Protect Access to Higher Education was funded by The Ford Foundation to expand the work we had started. The West cannot be characterized as a single entity, and thus we focused more sharply on two of the most important state-level issues currently facing our region: access for historically underrepresented groups and the role of higher education in state workforce development and economic development. Our goal was to help states build the capacity for change and to initiate that change by consensus building and action-oriented work.
We employed tools that we had found to be highly effective in informing policymakers and in moving the change process forward. The project's major activities included:
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Regional and sub-regional forums to bring together policymakers from different sectors of the policy community with experts for in-depth discussions of critical issues facing higher education.
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Roundtables involving key high-level players needed to make progress on transformation in higher education policy in the West.
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Technical assistance to support an assessment of a state's existing capacity to capitalize on its postsecondary education sector to support its current economic development and workforce development needs and discussion of new strategies to more closely link postsecondary education to future near-term state economic development and workforce development goals.
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Commissioned papers to support state and regional discussions on our major issue areas and to inform policymaking.
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Ford/WICHE Fellows to conduct research and develop papers on the project's topics.
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Annual meetings of WICHE's Legislative Advisory Committeeto engage members in the project's activities and discussion of its core issues.
For a fuller description of the project, link to the Escalating Engagement Project Description
Regional and Sub-Regional Forums
Western Summit on Workforce Certification and Higher Education June 11-13, 2008, South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Wednesday, June 11, 2008 |
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6:30 – 8:00 pm |
Dinner with Keynote SpeakerSpeaker: Jimmy Clarke, Former Chief of Staff to Kathleen Blanco, Former Governor of Louisiana |
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Thursday, June 12 |
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8:30 – 9:00 am |
Welcome & Meeting OverviewSpeaker: Dolores Mize, Vice President for Public Policy and Research, WICHE |
9:00 – 10:30 am |
Workforce and Economic Development in a Globally Competitive WorldThe increasingly competitive and interconnected global economy is dramatically transforming how nations, states, and communities compete. Meanwhile, the U.S. is undergoing dramatic demographic changes that have broad implications for the readiness of a key foundation of our economies: our future workforce. Complacency in this environment is not an option for our continued prosperity. This session will lay out the broad context in which state education and workforce development policies are being considered and implemented, and it will examine how one approach – a workforce certification system – holds promise for helping ensure our competitiveness. Speaker: David Longanecker, President, WICHE |
10:45 – 11:30 am |
Ready For College and Ready For Work: What Do We Know About Essential Skills?A recent study recently reached the conclusion that the core competencies individuals need for success in college are essentially the same as those needed for a life of productive work in the rapidly changing economy of today and the future. This session will provide evidence from that report and consider the broad implications this conclusion has for educators and policymakers. Speaker: Richard Ferguson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ACT, Inc. |
11:30 am – 12:15 pm |
Readiness For Work After SchoolWith education and workforce policy, the stakes are always high and initiating change is rarely easy. In this session, participants will hear how policymakers can best promote the benefits of a workforce certification-based initiative while addressing the challenges presented by stakeholders from all across the spectrum. Speaker: Roger Sampson, President, Education Commission of the States |
1:15 – 2:30 pm |
WorkKeys: Certifying Workforce Readiness Based Upon the Skill Demands of EmployersOne of the major obstacles to stronger linkages between the delivery of education and workforce development goals is the uncertainty about how well traditional education measures workforce readiness. ACT’s WorkKeys assessment eliminates much of that uncertainty by explicitly connecting information about the skill levels demanded by actual jobs with the demonstrated abilities of individual students. This session will provide more details concerning how the WorkKeys assessment tool works and how it might be put to use to provide valuable feedback information to employers, educators, and students. Speaker: Tom Kilijanek, WorkKeys Regional Manager, ACT, Inc. |
2:45 – 4:45 pm |
Implementing a Workforce Certification System in Your State or Region: Lessons From the FieldA workforce certification system holds the promise of providing useful information about workforce readiness to employers, educators, and individual students. But getting such a system implemented and working to its potential is a significant challenge. During this session, participants will learn from the experiences of panelists who have been involved with putting workforce certification systems in place. Moderator: Camille Preus, WICHE Commissioner and Commissioner, Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development Panelists: |
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Friday, June 13 |
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8:30 – 9:00 am |
Building and Implementing an Evidence-Based Workforce Certification SystemSpeaker: Dolores Mize, Vice President for Public Policy and Research, WICHE |
9:00 – 11:15 am |
Facilitated Group DiscussionsParticipants will be divided into smaller groups to consider how a workforce certification system might best be employed to meet their state needs. Each group will have a seasoned facilitator to guide its discussion, with the goal that the discussion will help states jump start their ability to more cohesively link their education activities and workforce development goals. |
11:15 – 11:30 am |
Closing RemarksSpeaker: David Longanecker, President, WICHE |
Finding the Right Port in a Storm: Strengthening the Connection between Higher Education and State Workforce Development Goals June 25-26, 2007, Denver, CO
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Monday, June 25 |
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12.00 – 12.30 pm |
Welcome, Introductions, and Meeting OverviewSpeaker: Dolores Mize, Program Director, Policy Analysis and Research, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education |
12:30 – 1:30 pm |
Luncheon KeynoteSpeaker: Anthony Carnevale, Research Professor, Georgetown University Anthony Carnevale is one of the nation’s leading authorities on the intersection of education and labor force needs, the author of numerous books and other publications, and an influential researcher on relevant national and state policies. His keynote address will focus on the emerging shape of the global marketplace for skilled workers and its implications for our continued economic prosperity. Of particular focus will be what America and its states must be prepared to do to ensure that we remain competitive in this environment. Questions from the audience will be welcome following the remarks. |
1.30 – 2.45 pm
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Ill Winds Blowing: Social Mobility Today and Prospects for the FutureAs the population of the nation and the West grows increasingly diverse, state policymakers need a thorough understanding of their state’s demographic patterns and trends. Whether individuals are able to be socially mobile has a great deal to do with their success in the public education system. This session will draw the linkages between education and social mobility for different groups. Moderator: Brian Prescott, Research Associate, Policy Analysis and Research, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Speaker: Dennis Jones, President, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems |
2.45 – 4.00 pm
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Defining a Public Agenda for Higher Education’s Role in Workforce DevelopmentRecommitting public postsecondary institutions to meeting state needs requires that states first understand their challenges in workforce and workplace development and are able articulate their goals. Second, states need to craft a public agenda around those goals through the active involvement of key stakeholders, including the business community. In this session, we will hear from the experience of states that have built the case for a public agenda that has reenergized its public institutions and refocused their attention on meeting future workforce needs. Moderator: Dolores Mize, Program Director, Policy Analysis and Research, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Speakers: Darcy Renfro, Policy Advisor for Higher Education, Innovation, and the Economy, Arizona Governor’s Office Robert “Tad” Perry, Executive Director, South Dakota Board of Regents |
4.15 – 5.30 pm |
Strategies to Effectively Engage Adult Learners for Enhanced Workforce ParticipationJobs that provide a high wage demand a high level of skills and education in our increasingly globalized knowledge economy, and an estimated 80 percent of all new jobs will require a college degree. Too many adults in our society do not have a college degree that makes them competitive for such jobs. Moreover, many lack basic literacy skills as well. Without sufficient skills or credentials, they will be trapped in low-wage and inconsistent employment, if they are able to stay in the workforce at all. But meeting the diverse educational needs of adults, including basic skills training, remedial coursework, and part-time enrollment, among others, are major challenges for states and institutions. This session will feature a national expert on how to best engage the targeted adult population in postsecondary education to better prepare them for success in the global workforce, as well as a higher education leader deeply involved in building bridges to state and local workforce needs. Moderator: Gregory Anderson, Program Officer, The Ford Foundation Speakers: Elaine DeLott Baker, Director of Workforce Initiatives, Community College of Denver |
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Tuesday, June 26 |
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8.30 – 9.45 am
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Are We All Rowing in the Same Direction? Aligning Policies Related to Higher Education and Workforce DevelopmentState legislators face a confusing jumble of policies related to workforce development and higher education. The collection of these policies should not present incentives that raise barriers to the development of better jobs, in favor of any jobs. In particular, states risk being left behind if, in their efforts to simply reduce rates of unemployment, they fail to enact policies that create space for individuals to obtain the education they need to successfully improve their employment prospects for the present and the future. This session will examine where potential conflicts may arise, and also consider the interaction of related federal policies. Moderator: David Longanecker, Executive Director, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Speakers: William Goetz, former Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor, State of North Dakota |
9.45 – 11.00 am |
Working GroupsParticipants will gather in groups to brainstorm how to best strengthen the linkages between higher education institutions and their state’s workforce development goals. The objective of this session is to emerge with ideas and momentum to improve the way that public institutions fulfill this critical state need. Discussion will be facilitated by representatives from WICHE and its partner organizations. |
11.20 am – 12.30 pmPaul Lingenfelter presentation
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Keeping the Goal in Sight: Effective Use of Data to Measure Your ProgressIt is no longer reasonable for states to treat their higher education enterprises with benign neglect, or to trust to an accountability model based more on faith than on real, quantifiable results. Rather, states that monitor the performance of their public institutions in meeting workforce needs are best positioned to be successful in a globally competitive environment. This session will emphasize the increasingly critical need for states to collect good information and put it to good use as part of an accountability system aligned with clearly articulated state objectives. It will also highlight the efforts of one state that is on the cutting edge of data gathering and analysis. Moderator: Dennis Jones, President, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems Speakers: Jeff Sellers, Director, K-20 Education Data Warehouse, Florida Department of Education |
1.30 – 2.45 pm |
An Involved Legislature: Recommendations from NCSL’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher EducationNot long ago, the National Conference of State Legislatures convened a select group of state legislators to consider how states can help transform higher education to meet society’s needs for today and for the future. The resulting report, issued in October 2006, calls on state legislators to embrace a sense of urgency in reexamining policies that promote or inhibit the global competitiveness of our higher education institutions. During this session, we will hear from members of the Blue Ribbon Commission. Moderator: Julie Davis Bell, Education Program Director, National Conference of State Legislatures Speakers: Representative Geanie Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education, Texas House of Representatives; Member, NCSL Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education |
2.45 – 3.00 pm |
Closing CommentsDavid Longanecker, Executive Director, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education |
If We Don't Build It, Who Will Come? Higher Education, State Workforce, and Economic Development December 2004, Denver, CO
Thursday, December 2, 2004 |
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7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. |
Welcome and Meeting Overview |
8:40 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. |
Framing the Discussion |
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
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Plenary Session: State Trends, Issues, and Challenges Ahead |
9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. |
Implications of State Trends for Workforce, Economic Development, and Higher Education |
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. |
Concurrent Sessions• North Dakota: Operation Intern • Montana: Setting a Leadership Agenda for Action • Georgia: Intellectual Capital Partnership Program |
1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. |
Plenary Session: Meeting the Challenges of an Age-Diverse Workforce |
3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. |
Concurrent Sessions• Shaping Financial Aid Programs to Meet State Workforce Needs • Ensuring Academic Success for Low-Income Adults • A Regional Campaign to Increase Participation in Adult Learning in the South |
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.Anthony Carnevale's presentation
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Plenary Session: State Workforce Engines: What Will They Look Like and Who Will Fuel Them? |
Friday, December 3, 2004 |
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8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
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Plenary Session: The Road to Recovery Is Full of Potholes |
10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
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Plenary Session: Offshoring—What Does It Mean for Education, Training, and Economic Development? |
11:30 a.m. – 11:45 p.m. |
Closing Comments and Adjournment |
Increasing Access and Retention in Times of Limited Growth August 2004, Minneapolis, MN
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Thursday, August 19, 2004 |
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8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
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Registration and Breakfast |
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. |
Welcome and Meeting Overview David Longanecker, Executive Director, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Larry Isaak, President, Midwestern Higher Education Compact Cheryl Blanco, Senior Program Director, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Janet Holdsworth, Director of Policy Research, Midwestern Higher Education Compact |
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. |
View from the States: Issues and Challenges Ahead No one knows the issues and challenges facing individual states better than those working hard in the states to address them. This session will provide state teams with the opportunity to set the context for the meeting by sharing their unique circumstances, obstacles, and perspectives with individuals in other states with similar projections of stable or low growth.
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10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. |
Changing Demographics and the Impact on State Higher Education The demographic characteristics of the U.S. population document a significant shift in the makeup of the American family and thus the composition of our schools. In terms of the numbers of children, their racial/ethnic backgrounds, and their socioeconomic levels, graduates from the nation’s high schools reflect a far more complex and varied group than we have seen in the past. This session will draw on new projections of high school graduates produced by WICHE in Knocking at the College Door to explore some of the major findings related to high school graduates generally and to their racial/ethnic and family income characteristics. A discussion of implications for public policy among low-growth states will help inform conversations during the forum.
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1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. |
Retention and the Educational Pipeline: Increasing a State’s Educational Capital with Fewer Students According to a recent report by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, effective state education policies can increase student success at four key transition points—high school graduation, entry into higher education, persistence in higher education, and completing higher education. The educational pipeline, or integrated system of high schools, colleges, and universities within a state, can increase a state’s educational capital, but there is a unique challenge facing states with low growth. This session will address how to increase educational capital when there are fewer students in the educational pipeline.
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3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Participation and Retention: Strategies That Work Developing effective institutional participation and retention strategies will be critical for colleges and universities situated in states that are projected to experience a decline in high school graduates over the next decade. Aligning various state-level postsecondary policies that support these strategies will be essential to ensure participation through completion during this period of decline. This session includes a brief presentation of what research shows about retention, a national overview of state and institutional policies that can serve to enhance participation and retention, and a discussion of the federal role in promoting student persistence.
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Friday, August 20, 2004 |
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8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. |
How Financial Aid Policies Can Promote Participation, Articulation, and Retention As states face limited growth, financial aid policies will increasingly serve as a key component of postsecondary participation strategies. While state and institutional sources of financial aid can significantly impact traditional student patterns of participation, persistence and completion, they also play a critical role in students’ ability to transfer among and between higher education systems and institutions. This session explores the latest trends in financial aid policies and their impact on articulation and transfer; particularly, for low-income students with high unmet need. It includes a presentation of Nebraska’s new tuition assistance program and how this program, which is designed to cover the costs of Pell grant recipients’ unmet need, may impact student transfer patterns in a time of limited growth.
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10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. |
Increasing Participation Rates Through Regional Collaboration A concern shared by states around the nation is capacity: some states have limited capacity to serve the increasing numbers of students seeking admission while others have capacity to spare. Helping states resolve their particular capacity problems while ensuring that needs of the students and the states are also met is an important part of the mission of regional organizations like MHEC and WICHE. Working closely with their members states, regional compacts have structured a variety of initiatives to increase participation rates. This session will include a conversation with the chief executives of MHEC and WICHE around existing opportunities and the potential for shaping new strategies for regional collaboration. Moderator: Sheila Stearns, Commissioner of Higher Education, Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education Speakers: David Longanecker, Executive Director, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Larry Isaak, President, Midwestern Higher Education Compact |
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. |
Plans Of Action: Where to Go From Here (An Open Discussion) After nearly two days of exploring the ways in which states facing limited growth can increase access and retention, this session provides participants with an opportunity to dialogue about next steps—given their state’s unique political, social, economic, and cultural context—in developing effective policies and strategies that address these salient issues. Moderator: Janet Holdsworth, Director of Policy Research, Midwestern Higher Education Compact |
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
Closing Comments David Longanecker, Executive Director, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Larry Isaak, President, Midwestern Higher Education Compact |
Technical Assistance
Six states were selected under the current Ford grant to receive technical assistance from WICHE and its partners in order to strengthen the linkages between higher education and state workforce development goals, especially with respect to traditionally underrepresented groups.
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Commissioned Papers
The Emerging Policy Triangle: Economic Development, Workforce Development and Education May 2007
Updated Profiles for All 50 States and Including International Comparative Data
by Dennis Jones and Patrick Kelly, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems
Ford/WICHE Fellows
This grant funded several individuals for appointments as Policy Fellows. The Fellows worked on individually designed research projects and received feedback from WICHE staff. The resulting papers were compiled into a single publication that is available for download.
The Fellows also participated in a meeting at WICHE’s offices in Boulder in April 2008. The agenda can be viewed here.
Additionally, the following links are a sample of work produced by Fellows who were funded under a related, previous Ford Foundation grant.
Other Activities
Directory of Fellows and Associates in Higher Education and Public Policy
