Hi Jan
Really great points. Any decisions, and particularly those that involve adding programs require information. In this case it appears you polled all the stake holders - students, grads, and employers. Employers can be such a valuable resource. In addition to feedback about your programs they may be able to assist with equipment, giving presentations, mock interviews, curriculum updates, and sit on your school advisory board (where they will be happy to give a lot of free advice.)
Great proven ideas. Thanks
Susan
Debra ;I would do a survay of the business and industry chamber of commerce in the city or county the school is located.this way you would be able to determind the need of the community.
Byron
Byron and Debra
There are many ways to gather information about the workforce training needs for your communities. Certainly business and chamber groups are key. There are also economic development boards, human resource and professional training associations, and other organizations concerned with business development in your community. Keeping in touch with current and prospective employers in the fields in which you teach are vital ways to know what new programs are needed and if you are meeting the employment needs of your community.
Best wishes
Susan
Hello Seth and all:
Our school has spent the past thirteen years developing formal partnerships with industry and the military to present our Quality Systems Management program. We tailor the courses (within the parameters of our accreditation) to meet the cultural and business requirements of our partners.
This has been much more effective, in our minds, than trying to "sell" a package that may or may not fit.
Denzil Verardo, Ph.D.
Hi Denzil and all
Forming alliances and partnerships with industry and military is a great way to offer programs. You develop a cohort group and people study together and are very likely to graduate together. It has great retention benefits. Also you can get specific feedback from each type of industry and can do some customization of programs.Usually employers pay tuition for their employees to complete coursework.
Best wishes
Susan
Hi Seth,
I think that it is important to get to know the the community. This will help you assess their needs and bring programs that are of interest in the community you serve.
Well said, Syndia. You want to be sure you are meeting the training needs of your community today and for tomorrow. Find out what industries are being developed in your area and the kind of trained workforce they will need.
best wishes
Susan
I don't know how other schools determine which new programs to add, but I must admit that our approach has been to dip our toes in by trying new programs in a small way and if there is interest we add the resourses.
We have put together an Advisory Committe that will be meeting in a few weeks. The committee consists of mostly employers and past graduates.
My biggist concern is that we brainstorm about possible new courses and the group comes up with a lot of suggestions that they think are good but many or even all of them may not ultimately be implemented. How would you handle this? How do we encourage people to get involved and then tell them that we decided not to use their ideas?
Guy
HI Guy
You bring up lots of good issues. Lots of strategies re planning new programs. Certainly involve an advisory board that represents your total constituency including employers. Ask them what programs they feel are needed to provide trained workers in your community. Also follow the local business leaders to see what industry is being brought into the community. Then create a five year plan. See what programs can start out as perhaps short programs and then be built on. For example you can start with nursing assistant and then add EKG, phlebotomy, medical assisting, etc. Your students can start at one level, get jobs, and continue for advanced training. When you have meetings emphasize that all ideas are great and may be implemented now or later. That way you keep your advisory board involved and thinking. Good luck, Susan
Asking faculty, undertaking surveys on active students and graduates are good methods on top of researching newspapers. In addition, short continuing education workshops provide a good gauge of popularity and demand.
Hi Suhas
Great ideas on how to determine what new programs to offer. It's really important to stay up-to-date on emerging careers and training that needs updating. Takes communicating with employers too. Best wishes, Susan
We use a varity of sources...ONET, Labor Stats, Program Advisory meetings,want ads we even request information from our grads.
Sounds like a great start to research, Tina. When adding new programs it's important to look at the demands of the workplace, talk to employers, reach Bureau of Labor Statistic forecasts, read professional journals, ask instructors, students, and more. The information the better your decision about which programs to add. Thanks, Susan
In the past we made the common mistake of getting very excited about a new program that we were sure will be very successful, but at the end it turned into a disappointmnet.
As we went back to analyse how we made those mistakes, it always came back to us overlooking
some key items. We eventauly came up with a two sheets of detailed checklists. We called them viablity and feasiblity lists. The first list goes through all of the items we needed to check to see whether such a program could be ssuccessfuly offered. The 2nd list checks to make sure we are in a position to offer such a program, i.e. have all the resources needed.
We do no not offer any new program, which we have not run through this list.
Thanks, Paul! This is an excellent approach because it identifies core components of strategic and project planning:
Does the market warrant it?
Will students enroll in it?
Are we qualified to implement it?
Is the timeline realistic?
Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
Do we have the identified resources to make it work?
Jay Hollowell, MaxKnowledge
Guest Facilitator
I think we need to have the end in mind, Placement. When we think of adding new programs it's easy to forget, can we find jobs for our grads? instead we tend to think about can we enroll for this program.
HI Christopher, Great great point. When adding a new program it is essential for the placement department to be involved. Are there enough jobs in the community so that students in every graduating class have the opportunity for work? In many communities the jobs are limited in certain fields. In some communities people don't like to drive more than 10 miles to a job. So it's important to survey every potential employer within 10 miles and ask them about annual job opening forcasts. If they tell you they hire 1 new person every few years, that's not good for your grads. And maybe that particular training program needs to be rethought. Thanks, Susan
In determining new programs to add, it is important to get feedback from your advisory board and graduate employers. Do they see any new trends in the industry which could lead to a new program or certification. Also, within your own curriculum, are certain subjects worth developing? We once surveyed our graduates to see if they could suggest useful topics to be included in course work. This could also be applied to new programs.
Hi Lisa, Good questions. When thinking about adding a new program there's a lot to reseach in an effective feasibility study. Is your competition offering the same program? What is the job outlook for grads in your area? What do employers want in a trained employee? What new business is being brought to your community. And yes, survey grads, employers, prospective employers, and more. And yes, we also have to keep looking at current curriculum to be sure it meets the needs of today's workplace. Often employers can tell you. Also consider continuing ed courses that can be offered. Good points. Thanks, Susan
Does anyone have an opinion on hiring a Subject Matter Expert once a determination of a new program has been decided by the school ?
