REGIONAL COLLEGE CONVERSATIONS
What’s Included in This Playbook
 Overview of Roll Out
 Phase One: Regional College Conversations
o Meeting Schedule
o Sample Invitation
o Suggested Outline
o Suggested Agenda
o Sign In Sheet
o Top Ideas Submission Form
o Pre-Reading List
o Post Event Instructions
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Board of Governors Task Force
on Workforce, Job Creation, and a Strong Economy
OVERVIEW OF ROLL OUT
The California Community College Chancellor’s Office Doing What MATTERS for Jobs and Economy (DWM) framework provides
the foundation to launch a new system-wide effort: the Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation, and a Strong Economy.
The Task Force has the goal to increase individual and regional economic competitiveness by providing California’s workforce
with relevant skills and quality credentials that match employer needs and fuel a strong economy. The Task Force is being
called on to consider strategies and recommend policies and practices that would:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Prepare students for high-value jobs that currently exist in the State,
Position California’s regions to attract high-value jobs in key industry sectors from other states and around the globe,
Create more jobs through workforce training that enables small business development, and
Finance these initiatives by braiding state and federal resources.
The Task Force will be comprised of representatives from community college faculty, administration, trustee and students; the
employer community; labor; public agencies involved in workforce training and economic development; K-12 education
policy; and community based organizations. This effort will roll out in three phases.
Phase One: Regional College Conversations
During December 2014-January 2015, regional meetings will be held with community college practitioners including
presidents/chancellors, chief instructional officers, career and technical education (CTE) deans and faculty with
representation from contract education, regional consortia chairs, sector navigators or deputy sectors navigators, faculty
senate leaders, and others. The scope of these meetings will be to consider strategies and recommend policies and practices
on issues such as flexibility, regional responsiveness, partnership with industry and student portability.
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Phase Two: Strong Workforce Town Hall Meetings
During February-March 2015, five town halls across the state will convene leaders from business, economic development, K12 education policy, labor, electeds, and other community organizations to vet and build on ideas and practices that bring
stronger alignment between community colleges and key industry sectors. The town halls will include interactive discussions
focused on how the community college system can act as a catalyst for growth in California’s regional economies.
Phase Three: Task Force Meetings
During January-July 2015, five meetings of the Task Force will be held. These meetings will lead to a set of recommendations
for how the community college system could improve workforce training, which can then be adopted by the Board of
Governors. Throughout the spring, the broader community would be invited to respond to the draft recommendations via the
use of Ideascale on the website. At the final meeting, the Task Force would review a draft final report prior to submission to
the Consultation Council and the Board of Governors.
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REGIONAL COLLEGE CONVERSATIONS
MEETING SCHEDULE
Regional College Conversations will be held throughout the state in November, December, and
January.
Please refer to the website link below to RSVP for the scheduled dates, times and locations.
http://doingwhatmatters.cccco.edu/StrongWorkforce/Events.aspx
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SAMPLE INVITATION TO REGIONAL COLLEGE CONVERSATIONS
Dear Fellow CEOs,
Van Ton-Quinlivan, on behalf of the Chancellor Harris, has asked me to help organize and host a macro-region
conversation with CEOs and other college representatives to prioritize ideas for the Board of Governors Task Force on
Workforce, Job Creation and a Strong Economy. The Board of Governors is expected to formally commission the Task Force
at its November meeting.
Please hold (date) from 10 am-3:00 pm for a Regional College Conversation with the CCCCO and a professional facilitator
to develop and prioritize regional recommendations to the State. This will be an important meeting in light of increased
regional funding opportunities and regional planning efforts.
In order to ensure broad participation at these meetings, please immediately extend invitations to, CIOs, CTE deans, and
representatives from contract education, regional consortia chairs, sector navigators or deputy sector navigators, faculty
senate leaders and CTE faculty. You are welcome to invite others or pick a subset as you see fit.
Remember, holding your calendar is the first step. Then, please have your team save (date) to attend the Regional
College Conversation.
I will follow-up with your office later with location information and agenda details.
Thank you all in advance for your support and participation in this important conversation.
Warm regards,
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Regional College Conversations
Suggested Outline
The Board of Governors has commissioned a Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation and a Strong Economy.
The Task Force will be asked to consider strategies and recommend policies and practices that would:
1) Prepare students for high-value jobs that currently exist in the State,
2) Position California’s regions to attract high-value jobs in key industry sectors from other states and
around the globe,
3) Create more jobs through workforce training that enables small business development, and
4) Finance these initiatives by braiding existing state and federal resources.
To inform the Task Force deliberations, each region is being asked to submit up to five recommendations to
the CCCCO for consideration, vetting and deliberation.
KEY QUESTIONS
1. How do we dramatically increase the number of Community College students, including incumbent
workers, who earn quality industry-valued credentials?
2. How do we ensure that community colleges work better and in a more timely manner with industry to
assure that students leave with appropriate skills for high value and good paying jobs – both current
and future – in California?
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3. How do we make funding the workforce programs and structured CTE pathways more sustainable,
especially during budget downturns?
TESTING YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS
When assessing your recommendations, prioritize those that meet most or all of these criteria to move
forward to the larger group for a vote:
1. Flexibility to respond to the needs of today’s ever-changing labor market and the lives that students
live
2. Responsiveness to the labor market and the sets of competencies needed by various industries
3. Portability as students move geographies and move in and out of learning institutions multiple times
over their lives
4. Build Sustainable Partnerships with business and industry and other workforce training providers
5. Financially Viable – not financially detrimental to colleges
SUBMIT TOP FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Identify up to five of the highest priority recommendations around the topics of completion,
responsiveness, and funding. If multiple conversations are held within a region please merge your
recommendations into the five highest priority ones for the regions.
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Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation and a Strong Economy
Regional College Conversations
SUGGESTED AGENDA FOR UP TO 5O PARTICIPANTS
Pre-Reading: Read at least 2 articles from Attachment A. Please choose articles about subjects you are least
informed about.
Goal:
 Identify up to five of the highest priority recommendations around the topics of completion,
responsiveness, and funding. If multiple conversations are held within a region please merge and
prioritize your recommendations into the five highest priority ones for the region.
Time
10:00 –
10:30
Topic
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Host CEO kicks off by welcoming the group.
Introductions. A presenter (usually Van)
gives a brief overview of issues facing CTE
programs. Then Facilitator walks through
agenda to explain the components and goals
of the day.
Outcome
Shared understanding of goals and structure of
the day, key issues, and overview of the goals
10:30 –
11:15
Small Group Work: Completion
Facilitator will explain the small group
exercise and where to find one’s small group
How do we dramatically increase the
number of Community College students,
including incumbent workers, who earn
8
Time
Topic
assignment (host CEO to create groups that
include different roles and different colleges).
Then the groups have 45 minutes to discuss
the issue.
Outcome
quality industry-valued credentials?
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. Decide if statelevel policy guidance will be needed to clarify
practices or if this would require regulatory or
legislative change.
Prioritize those ideas that meet most or all of
these criteria:
1. Flexibility to respond to the needs of
today’s ever-changing labor market and the
lives that students live
2. Responsiveness to the labor market and
the sets of competencies needed by various
industries
3. Portability as students move geographies
and move in and out of learning institutions
multiple times over their lives
4. Build Sustainable Partnerships with
business and industry and other workforce
training providers
5. Financially Viable – not financially
detrimental to colleges
9
Time
Topic
Outcome
11:15 –
11:45
Report Out & Discussion: Completion
Assumes about a 3-minute report out each
for 5 groups, then 15 minutes of discussion.
11:45
Working Lunch
Refine recommendations for this activity area.
See where agreement and disagreement lies.
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. If it is a state-level
issue what policy guidance, regulatory, or
legislative change is needed?
Get lunch and move to next small group
12:00 –
12:45
Working Lunch/Small Group Work:
Responsiveness
How do we ensure that community colleges
work better and in a more timely manner
with industry to assure that students leave
with appropriate skills for high value and
good paying jobs – both current and future –
in California?
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. Decide if statelevel policy guidance will be needed to clarify
practices or if this would require regulatory or
legislative change.
Prioritize those ideas that meet most or all of
these criteria:
1. Flexibility to respond to the needs of
10
Time
Topic
Outcome
today’s ever-changing labor market and the
lives that students live
2. Responsiveness to the labor market and
the sets of competencies needed by various
industries
3. Portability as students move geographies
and move in and out of learning institutions
multiple times over their lives
4. Build Sustainable Partnerships with
business and industry and other workforce
training providers
5. Financially Viable – not financially
detrimental to colleges
12:45 –
1:15
Report Out & Discussion: Responsiveness
Refine recommendations for this activity area.
See where agreement and disagreement lies.
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. If it is a state-level
issue what policy guidance, regulatory, or
legislative change is needed?
1:15 –
1:45
Small Group Work: Funding
How do we make funding the workforce
programs and structured CTE pathways
more sustainable, especially during budget
downturns?
11
Time
Topic
Outcome
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. Decide if statelevel policy guidance will be needed to clarify
practices or if this would require regulatory or
legislative change.
Prioritize those ideas that meet most or all of
these criteria.
1. Flexibility to respond to the needs of
today’s ever-changing labor market and the
lives that students live
2. Responsiveness to the labor market and
the sets of competencies needed by various
industries
3. Portability as students move geographies
and move in and out of learning institutions
multiple times over their lives
4. Build Sustainable Partnerships with
business and industry and other workforce
training providers
5. Financially Viable – not financially
detrimental to colleges
1:452:15
Report Out & Discussion: Funding
Refine recommendations for this activity area.
See where agreement and disagreement lies.
12
Time
Topic
2:15 –
3:00
Priority Ranking, Next Steps & Final
Reflections
Outcome
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. If it is a state-level
issue what policy guidance, regulatory, or
legislative change is needed?
Identification of top priorities using template
& clarify group understanding of the next steps
in the process.
13
Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation and a Strong Economy
Regional College Conversations
SUGGESTED AGENDA FOR MORE THAN 5O PARTICIPANTS
Pre-Reading: Read at least 2 articles from Attachment A. Please choose articles about subjects you are least
informed about.
Goal:
 Identify up to five of the highest priority recommendations around the topics of completion,
responsiveness, and funding. If multiple conversations are held within a region please merge and
prioritize your recommendations into the five highest priority ones for the region.
Time
10:00 –
10:30
10:30 –
11:45
Topic
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Host CEO kicks off by welcoming the group.
Introductions. A presenter (usually Van)
gives a brief overview of issues facing CTE
programs. Then Facilitator walks through
agenda to explain the components and goals
of the day.
Outcome
Shared understanding of goals and structure of
the day, key issues, and overview of the goals.
Small Group 1: Completion
Facilitator will explain the small group
exercise and where to find one’s small group
assignment (host CEO to create groups that
How do we dramatically increase the
number of Community College students,
including incumbent workers, who earn
quality industry-valued credentials?
Participants choose or are assigned to one of
the following three groups that meet
simultaneously.
14
Time
Topic
include different roles and different colleges).
Then the groups have 45 minutes to discuss
the issue.
Outcome
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. Decide if statelevel policy guidance will be needed to clarify
practices or if this would require regulatory or
legislative change.
Prioritize those ideas that meet most or all of
these criteria:
1. Flexibility to respond to the needs of
today’s ever-changing labor market and the
lives that students live
2. Responsiveness to the labor market and
the sets of competencies needed by various
industries
3. Portability as students move geographies
and move in and out of learning institutions
multiple times over their lives
4. Build Sustainable Partnerships with
business and industry and other workforce
training providers
5. Financially Viable – not financially
detrimental to colleges
10:30 –
Small Group 2: Responsiveness
How do we ensure that community colleges
15
Time
11:45
Topic
Outcome
work better and in a more timely manner
with industry to assure that students leave
with appropriate skills for high value and
good paying jobs – both current and future –
in California?
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. Decide if statelevel policy guidance will be needed to clarify
practices or if this would require regulatory or
legislative change.
Prioritize those ideas that meet most or all of
these criteria:
1. Flexibility to respond to the needs of
today’s ever-changing labor market and the
lives that students live
2. Responsiveness to the labor market and
the sets of competencies needed by various
industries
3. Portability as students move geographies
and move in and out of learning institutions
multiple times over their lives
4. Build Sustainable Partnerships with
business and industry and other workforce
16
Time
Topic
Outcome
training providers
5. Financially Viable – not financially
detrimental to colleges
10:30 –
11:45
Small Group 3: Funding
How do we make funding the workforce
programs and structured CTE pathways
more sustainable, especially during budget
downturns?
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. Decide if statelevel policy guidance will be needed to clarify
practices or if this would require regulatory or
legislative change.
Prioritize those ideas that meet most or all of
these criteria:
1. Flexibility to respond to the needs of
today’s ever-changing labor market and the
lives that students live
2. Responsiveness to the labor market and
the sets of competencies needed by various
industries
3. Portability as students move geographies
and move in and out of learning institutions
multiple times over their lives
17
Time
Topic
11:45 –
12:15
12:15 –
12:45
Gather together in one room and get lunch
12:45 –
1:15
Report Out & Discussion: Group 2
1:151:45
Report Out & Discussion: Group 3
Report Out & Discussion: Group 1
Outcome
4. Build Sustainable Partnerships with
business and industry and other workforce
training providers
5. Financially Viable – not financially
detrimental to colleges
Refine recommendations for this activity area.
See where agreement and disagreement lies.
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. If it is a state-level
issue what policy guidance, regulatory, or
legislative change is needed?
Refine recommendations for this activity area.
See where agreement and disagreement lies.
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. If it is a state-level
issue what policy guidance, regulatory, or
legislative change is needed?
Refine recommendations for this activity area.
See where agreement and disagreement lies.
Decide if recommendations can be done at the
local, regional or state level. If it is a state-level
18
Time
Topic
1:45 –
3:00
Priority Ranking, Next Steps & Final
Reflections
Outcome
issue what policy guidance, regulatory, or
legislative change is needed?
Identification of top priorities using template
& clarify group understanding of the next steps
in the process.
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TOP IDEAS SUBMISSION FORM
Your Region __________________
Duplicate this template to submit up to five of the top ideas from your meeting. If there are multiple conversations held in the
region, please merge and prioritize the final recommendations. Please include any background material, URLs or the name and
contact information of any experts who can speak to the change needed. Submit additional pages as needed.
BIG IDEA #____ of 5
IDEA OWNER CONTACT INFO _________________________________________________________
Describe the idea: 100 words or less
What is the change being recommended?
Why is the change needed?
How should the change be implemented?
Practice guideline? Regulatory change? Legislation?
Please explain.
YOUR NAME _________________________________________ EMAIL ____________________________ PHONE ____________________
Please scan and return form by email to Kevin Albee at [email protected].
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Regional College Conversations
Sign-In Sheet
YOUR NAME _________________________________________ EMAIL ________________________________________________
ROLE _____________________________________________ COLLEGE __________________________________________________
YOUR NAME _________________________________________ EMAIL ________________________________________________
ROLE _____________________________________________ COLLEGE __________________________________________________
YOUR NAME _________________________________________ EMAIL ________________________________________________
ROLE _____________________________________________ COLLEGE __________________________________________________
YOUR NAME _________________________________________ EMAIL ________________________________________________
ROLE _____________________________________________ COLLEGE __________________________________________________
YOUR NAME _________________________________________ EMAIL ________________________________________________
ROLE _____________________________________________ COLLEGE __________________________________________________
Duplicate as needed. Please scan and return form by email to Kevin Albee at [email protected].
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Attachment A: Reading List on Issues on Workforce, Job Creation, and a Strong Economy
Completion
The Road Less Traveled: Realizing the Potential of Career Technical Education in the California Community Colleges, Nancy Shulock, 2011,
http://bit.ly/1DXaXW0
Career Opportunities: Career Technical Education and the College Completion Agenda, Part I: Structure and Funding of Career Technical
Education in the California Community Colleges, Nancy Shulock and Jeremy Offenstein, 2012, http://bit.ly/1DXajrM
Empowering Community Colleges to Build the Nation’s Future, American Association of Community Colleges, 2014, http://bit.ly/1tBRo2a
Responsiveness
Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018, Anthony P. Carnevale, Nicole Smith, and Jeff Strohl,
McKinsey Global Institute, June 2010, http://bit.ly/1FSRAPX
Portable, Stackable Credentials-A New Education Model for Industry-Specific Career Pathways, James T. Austin, Gail Mellow, and Mitch
Rosin, 2012, http://bit.ly/1tFNGGh
Across The Great Divide: Perspectives of CEOs and College Presidents on America’s Higher Education and Skills Gap Civic Enterprises; John
Bridgeland, Jessica Milano, and Elyse Rosenblum, March 2011, http://bit.ly/1pUWyl5
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Funding
Workforce Investments: State Strategies to Preserve Higher Cost Career Education Programs in Community and Technical Colleges,
Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy, 2013, http://www.csus.edu/ihelp/PDFs/R_Workforce_Invest_0913.pdf
Shared Strategy for a Shared Prosperity-California’s Strategic Workforce Development Plan: 2013-17, California Workforce Investment
Board, http://bit.ly/1sA0pUp
Report of the CCCT CTE Task Force on Differential Funding for CTE Programs, Jim Moreno and Andreea Serban, January 2013,
http://bit.ly/1xAKv0v
Help Wanted: Professional Development and Training for Career and Technical Education Faculty, Krista D. Kerna, International
Journal of Vocational and Technical Education Vol. 4(3), pp. 38-45, March 2012, http://bit.ly/1waT5Vh
Post Event Instructions
 Attendance rosters – Regional host should mail a pdf version of the attendance roster to
[email protected]. Attendees will be subscribed to eUpdates so that they can be electronically
apprised of Task Force developments.
 Host CEO should send an email to original invitee list to thank them for sending attendees to the
Regional College Conversation and to invite those who were unable to attend to stay updated by
subscribing to eUpdates at http://bit.ly/11nZPmR.
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