applied baccalaureates in illinois community colleges? debra bragg, university of illinois at...
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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
Dr. Debra [email protected]
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