This brief examines how four community colleges in the Advancing Community Equity and Upward Mobility (ACE-UP) Community of Practice engage with employers to promote equitable access to and support along career pathways for students, especially students who are underrepresented in college programs or particular occupations and careers.
Authors
- Pages
- 23
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways 2
- Background: Employer Engagement as an Equity Strategy 4
- Strategies and Insights 6
- Building Direct Connections with Employers for Students 6
- Developing Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning 7
- Leveraging Employer Advisory Groups 9
- Participating in Industry and Cross-Sector Partnerships 10
- Providing Training to Employers 12
- Challenges and Opportunities 13
- Coordinating Engagement to Limit Employer Fatigue and Maximize Benefits 13
- Understanding Employer Priorities to Identify Shared Goals and Promote Opportunities for Collaboration 14
- Overcoming Stigma and Skepticism around the Value of Apprenticeship 14
- Pushing Employer Practice Change through Strong Relationships 15
- Using Data to Encourage Employer Practice Change 16
- Conclusion 17
- Appendix: College Profiles17 17
- Arkansas State University – Newport 17
- City Colleges of Chicago 18
- Grand Rapids Community College 18
- J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 19
- Notes 19
- References 21
- About the Authors 22
- Acknowledgments 23
