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Iowa's three public universities partnered with the Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness to host a successful webinar focused on the transfer process and advisement support for students taking concurrent enrollment coursework. The event highlighted valuable transfer resources and tools designed to help students, school counselors, CCTCs and educators navigate the transfer process to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa.
If you were unable to attend or would like to revisit the information shared, all materials from the webinar are available for access. These include the webinar recording, slide deck and a comprehensive document containing all the tools and resources from the three universities. You’ll find links to the recording, slide deck and a portion of the tools and resources below.
Overall Links:
Each of Iowa’s three Regent universities offers specific tools to help students successfully transfer from community colleges or high schools, including:
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Regent Webinar Feedback Request
To ensure we continue providing valuable information to the field, Iowa’s public universities and the Department would greatly appreciate your feedback on potential future informational events, similar to the webinar held last month. These events may include in-person gatherings, hybrid options, or other formats that best meet your needs. If you advise or support students in postsecondary planning, please take a few minutes to complete this brief feedback form. Your input will play a key role in shaping future opportunities for connection and learning.
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The recent brief What Do Dual Enrollment Students Want? by Aurely Garcia Tulloch highlights the needs and experiences of historically underserved dual-credit (concurrent enrollment) students. Based on focus group interviews, the brief identifies six key areas where students seek more support:
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Earlier Awareness: Students want to learn about concurrent enrollment options sooner.
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Informed Advisors: Students want well-informed advisors who empower them to make informed choices.
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Career-Aligned Courses: Students want concurrent courses aligned with their career and academic interests.
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Engaging Learning: Students want more engaging online learning experiences.
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Balancing School & Concurrent courses: Students need help managing the demands of high school and concurrent coursework.
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Financial Support: Students want guidance on scholarships and managing debt to make college more affordable.
In addition to these insights, a new postsecondary readiness indicator has been released as part of updated state school performance ratings. This indicator measures high school students' preparedness for postsecondary success, including college credit earned through concurrent enrollment, work-based learning experiences and industry-recognized credentials. By aligning concurrent enrollment programs with these goals and supporting students in meeting them, educators can help ensure that students are well-prepared for the transition to higher education and beyond.
Garcia Tulloch, A. (2024, October 21). Student voices: Learning from former dual enrollment students. Community College Research Center (CCRC). https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/
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Career exploration should be a focus in middle school—before high school planning and management can take place. While elementary school focuses on career awareness and high school is about career/postsecondary planning and management, middle school is the ideal time for students to explore different career options. Without this exploration, it becomes challenging for students to plan and manage their future academic and career goals effectively. Starting career exploration early helps students align their interests and strengths with potential careers, setting the stage for informed academic decisions in high school.
Career exploration in middle school helps students:
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Discovering Interests and Strengths: Career exploration helps students identify areas they enjoy and excel in, allowing them to focus on fields that match their abilities and preferences.
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Making Informed Academic Choices: By linking their academic interests to career options, students can select courses, extracurricular activities, and even majors that will best support their future goals.
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Build Employability Skills: Career exploration helps students develop key employability skills—such as decision-making, problem-solving, communication, and goal-setting—that are essential for success in school and the workplace.
As course planning for the upcoming school year is underway or beginning, now is a great time to connect academic choices with future career goals. Below are several resources that can help support students in this process:
The 2023 Condition of Career Readiness Report underscores the pivotal role school districts play in preparing students for future success. To build a strong career readiness framework, districts must focus on several key areas:
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Enhance School Counseling: Improve student-to-school counselor ratios to provide more personalized career planning, goal setting and postsecondary management. Effective counseling helps students make informed decisions about their educational and career paths.
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Monitor Key Metrics: Track indicators such as Advanced Placement (AP) test scores, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates and high school graduation rates. These metrics are crucial for assessing and enhancing career readiness.
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Focus on Postsecondary Outcomes: Collect and analyze data on postsecondary education outcomes to identify gaps and refine strategies. This will support students in transitioning smoothly from high school to further education or employment.
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Address Barriers for Young Adults: Implement strategic career planning and guidance for students, especially those facing challenges in entering high-demand jobs. Aim to reduce the number of disconnected young adults who are neither working nor engaged in education or training.
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Promote Ongoing Career Advising: Ensure continuous access to career advising for all students, including those from underrepresented backgrounds. This support is vital for helping them achieve economic and social mobility.
Solberg, V. S. H., Donnelly, H. K., Park, C., Esquivel, L. E., Blake, M., & Temurnikar, M. (2023). 2023 Report on the Condition of Career Readiness in the United States. Alexandria, VA: Coalition for Career Development Center.
The Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators Committee invites you to submit a proposal to present at the upcoming Work-Based Learning Conference, set for April 14, 2025, at the Prairie Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona. This conference is an essential event, particularly for those new to the field of work-based learning.
The deadline for proposal submissions has been extended to Friday, December 20, 2024. If you have valuable insights, effective practices, or innovative strategies to share, we encourage you to contribute. Proposals will be reviewed, and applicants will be notified by mid-January 2025.
The conference will feature nationally recognized speakers, as well as numerous opportunities to network, connect, and learn from others in the work-based learning community across the state.
Submit your proposal today! Session Proposal Link – Click here
Erica Woods-Schmitz, Consultant
Academic and Career Planning
Division of Higher Education
Bureau of Community College and Postsecondary Readiness
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 E 14th St
Des Moines, IA 50319515-330-0185
erica.woods-schmitz@iowa.gov
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