E-Newsletters

Our E-newsletter, Transmissions, contains the latest information on the Shifting Gears initiative.

Transmissions, Issue 5 (Fall 2011) 

Transmissions, Issue 4 (Spring 2011)

Transmissions, Issue 3 (Fall 2010)

Transmissions, Issue 2 (Spring 2010)

Transmissions, Issue 1 (Fall 2009)

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Webinars

The Shifting Gears initiative produces a series of Webinars to provide additional technical assistance to Shifting Gears states. 

The following archived Webinars are available for download/streaming audio:

Developing and Delivering Effective Professional Development Programs (May 2011) - (Windows Media Audio/Video File)

How do you engage regional stakeholders when moving from policy change to implementation? What is the best process for delivering professional development to regional players who will be involved in making those changes? What is the most effective delivery schedule? How do you mix face-to-face, webinars and online delivery? How can you effectively utilize communities of practice? What are examples of effective professional development programs? Through this webinar three state representatives who have successfully launched effective professional development initiatives were on hand to share their experiences and answer questions. Speakers on this webinar included Karon Rosa, Career Pathways Initiative Director, Arkansas Department of Higher Education, Mimi Maduro, Oregon Statewide Career Pathways Director and Elizabeth Creamer, Career Pathways Director, Virginia Community College System. View a PDF of the webinar slides. Moderator: Melissa Goldberg, Senior Associate, Workforce Strategy Center.

Braiding Resources to Provide Comprehensive Support Services (April 2011) - (Windows Media Audio/Video File)

In this webinar, experts helped Shifting Gears states explore strategies for effectively leveraging and braiding together available resources in order to support students through direct funding (such as ITAs and Pell Grants), supportive services (such as child care), and academic support services (such as tutoring and career counseling). This webinar featured Maureen Conway, Executive Director of the Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) at The Aspen Institute, who shared the findings of her recent study “Courses to Employment,” Steven Jackobs, Executive Director of Capital Idea, who discussed the funding of the extensive services provided to Capital Idea participants, and Meegan Dugan Bassett, Senior Policy Associate at Women Employed, who discussed the work Women Employed has done on a transition services self-assessment tool in Illinois. View a PDF of the webinar slides.  
Moderator: Sarah Klerk, Associate, Workforce Strategy Center

Cost Benefit Models: Tools to Help Community Colleges Sell Innovation (November 2010) - (Windows Media Audio/Video File)

Kristin Corash,  Associate Vice President of Strategic Planning and Research, Colorado Community College System and Elaine DeLott Baker, Principal Investigator, Colorado Lumina Initiative for Performance, describes their Simplified Cost-Benefit Analysis tool and shares examples of its use.  Following their presentation, Dr. Rob Johnstone, Dean of Planning, Research & Institutional Effectiveness at Skyline College and Vice President, Research & Planning Group for California Community Colleges discusses “The Economics of Innovation: A Return-on-Investment Approach,” a model he has developed for California.  The speakers then answered questions about ways that others can use these types of cost-benefit analyses to promote innovation in states and regions.
Moderator: Davis Jenkins, Senior Research Associate, Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University

Harnessing the Power of Performance-Based Funding: State Models and Lessons Learned (November 2009) - (Windows Media Audio/Video File)

Kristen Conklin, Founding Partner of HCM Strategists, provides an overview of performance-based funding in postsecondary education and discusses specific models, challenges, and lessons learned.  Following Ms. Conklin’s presentation, Dr. Ronald E. Abrams, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, discusses the work on performance-based funding in Ohio. In addition to sharing this information, the speakers answered questions about ways that states can leverage performance-based funding.
Moderator:  Julian L. Alssid, Executive Director, Workforce Strategy Center
 

Education Officials on Making President Obama's Initiatives Work for You (October 2009) - (Windows Media Audio/Video File)

Hear Glenn Cummings, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational Adult Education and Vickie Schray, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Postsecondary Education discuss the American Graduation Initiative, OVAE’s new transitions initiative, and other Office of Postsecondary Education investments. In addition to sharing the latest information, the speakers answered questions about ways states can make connections between these new initiatives and work in the state.
Moderator:  Julian L. Alssid, Executive Director, Workforce Strategy Center

Innovations from Oregon: The Career Pathways Roadmap Tool (March 2008) - (Windows Media Audio/Video File)

Mimi Maduro, Pathways Initiative Statewide Director and Mark Williams, Division Chair of Computer Information Technology at Lane College provide an overview and demonstration of Oregon's career pathways tool.The presenters discuss the history of the tool, the development process, and how it's currently being used to foster collaboration and cross-agency discussion around program development, approval, delivery, assessment and accreditation.
Moderator:  Melissa Goldberg, Senior Associate, Workforce Strategy Center

Perkins:  The Newly Revised Career and Technical Education Law (December 2007) - (Windows Media Audio/Video File)

Kimberly Green, Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium; Dr. Pradeep Kotamraju, System Director for Federal Perkins Grant for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; and Rob Kerr, Director of Career and Technical Education for the Illinois Community College Board discuss changes in the Perkins legislation and how those changes impact the development of state Shifting Gears implementation plans.
Moderator: Julie Strawn, Senior Fellow, CLASP