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by CAEL on Jan 24, 2024
New CAEL and The Evolllution Research Report Highlights Gap Between Aspiration and Action in Competency-Based Education
In collaboration with The EvoLLLution and Modern Campus, CAEL’s Lana Munip, senior research director, and Becky Klein-Collins, vice president of research and impact, authored Comprehensive Learner Records: Empowering Lifelong Learning in the Digital Age. The report explores the role of skills and competencies in higher education, assessing the degree to which these frameworks have been adopted. Among the findings is that even as a vast majority (86%) of higher education institutions acknowledge that postsecondary education models need to be designed around well-defined skills and competencies vital for today’s workforce, only 22% have fully implemented skills-based frameworks across all of their programs.
Earl Buford Reappointed Director to Federal Reserve Bank Board, Speaks at Third Annual Interagency Convening on Equitable Economic Growth
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland has reappointed CAEL President Earl Buford as a director on its Pittsburgh branch board, effective January 1. One of 12 regional Reserve Banks in the Federal Reserve System, the Cleveland Fed contributes to national policymaking and focuses on workforce development and other issues key to the wellbeing of its service area, which includes Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia.
In November, Buford was a guest speaker at the Department of Commerce’s third annual Interagency Convening on Equitable Economic Growth. The event supported the Department’s work to further equitable economic development through collaboration among government, the private sector, and community organizations.
CAEL Course on Building Workforce Partnerships Launching Feb. 26
CAEL’s newest professional development offering explores how various education and employment stakeholders can and must collaborate on effective training that supports rewarding careers and enables equitable economic mobility. The Workforce Ecosystem: Building Partnerships for Community Growth, a four-week asynchronous online course, begins Feb. 26, along with CAEL’s additional instructor-led training. Sign up today!
New Award Adds to Annual Conference Highlights
There was plenty to celebrate, including a brand-new award, when nearly 1,000 people attended CAEL’s 49th annual conference, which was held Nov. 8-10 in Baltimore. CAEL presented the first-ever Community Impact Award, which recognizes an outstanding organization within CAEL’s host community that positively impacts the lives of adult learners and workers. Employ Prince George's, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Largo, Maryland, took home the honors. This year’s annual conference, CAEL’s 50th, will take place Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 in New Orleans. CAEL expects to announce the conference’s call for proposals later this month.
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CAEL Report on Finance and Insurance Pathways Marks Major Build Better Careers Milestone
As part of the six-year, five-region Where It Starts: Build Better Careers Initiative, funded through Truist Foundation for $15.7 million and led by CAEL in partnership with several other local and national organizations, CAEL and its local partners have completed a report detailing priority occupations and associated career pathways maps. The report will be a key resource guiding planning and implementation in forthcoming phases of Build Better Careers in the Charlotte region.
Mustering Municipalities to the Cause of Education-Employment Pathways
The National League of Cities (NLC) and CAEL have partnered to create Municipal Action Cohort: Connecting Adults to Postsecondary and Workforce Success. Combining CAEL’s postsecondary and workforce development expertise and practice with NLC’s many decades of hands-on experience with city leadership across the country, the partnership will offer a wealth of technical assistance around connecting adults with education and training that lead to quality jobs.
Bridging The Talent Gap Case Study Debuts
Doug Heckman and Bridgett Strickler, along with CAEL partners from One Acadiana and MacLaff Inc., presented a new case study on Bridging The Talent Gap (BTTG) at, appropriately enough, the Talent Hubs Annual Convening in Mobile, Alabama. The case study showcases an outstanding example of a regional partnership that is increasing economic mobility for workers and creating a thriving community.
BTTG’s employee survey is a powerful tool for employers who want to support the career and education aspirations of their workers. The case study highlights One Acadiana's sponsorship of a BTTG employee survey at MacLaff, Inc., an owner operator of 45 McDonald's franchises employing more than 2,800 workers. Among the findings: 85 percent of crew members planned on pursuing a credential (inclusive of a high school diploma or equivalency), with 45 percent aspiring to a bachelor’s degree.
Since 2017, MacLaff, Inc. employees have been awarded over $1.5 million in tuition dollars through Archways to Opportunity. And year-to-date, MacLaff, Inc. employees have received nearly $200,000 in tuition with four percent of their employee roster participating (the highest participation rate in the region). Additionally, $5,500 in high school diploma tuition was awarded in 2023. And on top of this, South Louisiana Community College has provided an additional $19,250 in tuition waivers and scholarships to McDonald’s employees throughout Acadiana since 2019.
In addition to its latest case study, BTTG boasts a fresh page at the recently revamped cael.org.
CAEL-led Panel Energizes Discussion on Upskilling and Reskilling
In November, Kristen Himmerick, vice president of solutions at CAEL, moderated a panel at the CEWD Workforce Development Summit in Washington, D.C. Titled "Upskilling Today's Workforce for Tomorrow: Transitioning From Operations to Technology," the session included panelists James Goosby from Southern Company, Andrea Hale from DTE Energy, and Angie Lucas, CAEL's director of industry education solutions and the director of the Energy Providers Coalition for Education, one of CAEL’s industry-education partnerships. The panelists shared their expertise on re-skilling and up-skilling within the energy workforce and best practices in training and cross-training team members.
Welcome to Our Newest CAEL Employees!
Emmaline Armstrong, manager of initiatives
Shy Coleman, director of initiatives
William J. McKinney, senior director for higher education initiatives
