applied baccalaureates in illinois community colleges? debra bragg, university of illinois at...

APPLIED BACCALAUREATESIN ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGES?

Debra Bragg, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

March 13, 2015

Transfer Pathway

Terminal

Transfer Baccalaureate

Baccalaureate Pathways

Transfer

Terminal

Applied Baccalaureate

What is an Applied Baccalaureate (AB)?

“Bachelor’s degree designed to incorporate applied associate courses and degrees once considered as ‘terminal’ or non-baccalaureate level while providing students with higher-order thinking skills and advanced technical knowledge and skills so desired in today’s job market.”

(Townsend, Bragg, & Ruud, 2009)

Community CollegeUniversity

Applied Baccalaureate

Community CollegeUniversity

Applied Baccalaureate

National Trend In AB Degrees

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s0

10

20

30

40

50

2-Year 4-Year

Num

ber o

f Sta

tes

National Trend In AB Degrees

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s0

10

20

30

40

50

2-Year 4-Year

Num

ber o

f Sta

tes

APPLIED BACCALAUREATE MODELS

Management Model Fastest Growth

Agricultural TechnologyCivil and Construction Technology

Marine TechnologyMultimedia Technology

Transportation TechnologyGeospatial Technology

Chemical TechnologyNanotechnology

Cyber Security and ForensicsTelecommunications

Environmental TechnologyElectronics

EnergyOther

BiotechnologyComputer and Information Technology

Manufacturing and Engineering Technology

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Percent of Respondents

AB DEGREE PATHWAYS

RESEARCH SHOWS…

• Impetus linked to workforce and political forces (community development)

• Some applied and transfer degrees very similar• Limited understanding - Missed opportunities to

communicate about degree pathways • Limited outcomes and impact data • Mixed perceptions

STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTIONS

• Students• Community college personnel• University personnel• Employers

STUDENT PERCEPTIONS

• Workforce relevant • Flexible schedule• Affordable• AttainableBUT…• Will AB degrees lead to

good jobs?

“I could take my electronics program, the credits from that, and apply it towards finishing the bachelor’s… Flexibility-wise, that’s nice.”

AB Graduate

COMMUNITY COLLEGE PERCEPTIONS

• Expand access

• Meet local labor market needs

• Serve communities

BUT…

• Can we afford ABs?

• Will they confuse institutional identity?

CCB degree programs enroll citizens who seek to remain in their communities as employees, taxpayers, and contributing community members.

UNIVERSITY PERCEPTIONS

• Responds to workforce shortages

BUT…• “Mission creep”• Escalate cost• New terminal (master’s

level)• Increase scrutiny of

community colleges

“People are going to look at you differently. I mean, you’re inviting a whole other level of criticism as a 2-year institution that is rolling out a baccalaureate program.”

Community College Interviewee

EMPLOYER PERCEPTIONS

• AB = BS/BA

• Access for diverse students

• Cross-sector collaborative relationships

• Qualified workforce

• Services communities

“[The AB helps to] get the right people coming in the door at the right time with the right skills.”

AB Graduate Employer

PUBLIC AGENDA FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESSGoal #3: High Quality Postsecondary Credentials

• Increase the number of people with high quality postsecondary credentials– Close equity gaps

• Improve pipeline transitions – “associates to baccalaureate degree levels”– Remove obstacles to transfer and bolster baccalaureate completion

opportunities

• Increase the number of postsecondary degrees in fields with critical skill shortages– Examples nursing, allied health, and information technology

Illinois Community College Enrollment & Degree Attainment (FY 2013)

ICCB

187,563

280,069

223,904

CTE Transfer Other

11,921 AAS Degrees

21,746 Transfer Degrees (AA, AS,

AAT, etc.)

Illinois Community College Enrollment & Degree Attainment (FY 2013)

ICCB

187,563

280,069

223,904

CTE Transfer Other

11,921 AAS Degrees

21,746 Transfer Degrees (AA, AS,

AAT, etc.)

Over 47,000 AAS Degrees and Certificates

Illinois Community College Enrollment & Degree Attainment (FY 2013)

ICCB

187,563

280,069

223,904

CTE Transfer Other

11,921 AAS Degrees

21,746 Transfer Degrees (AA, AS,

AAT, etc.)

Over 47,000 AAS Degrees and Certificates

MOST DIVERSE COLLEGE

STUDENTS

Key Questions

• Where do Illinois’ “terminal” students go now?

• What are the associate-to-baccalaureate pathway (degree) gaps?

• What are the workforce and community needs?

• How can ABs address economic recovery and college completion goals?

Office of Community College Research and LeadershipUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignCollege of Education51 Gerty DrChampaign, IL 61820

www.occrl.illinois.eduoccrl@illinois.edu

Dr. Debra Braggdbragg@illinois.edu

OCCRL’s Mission

OCCRL researchers study policies, programs, and practices designed to enhance outcomes for diverse youth and adults who seek to transition to and through college to employment.

Strengthening Pathways for All Students Through Research and Leadership