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Pre-College Initiative
The following are the guiding principles for the project:
- High school programs that integrate academic and work-based activities have statistically significant positive effects on students staying in school and completing a diploma (Kemple, 2000).
- Students participating in work-based learning recognize career opportunities in their community and are more likely to follow a career plan, and the participating businesses are positively positioned (Gleason, 2001).
- On-the-job training is associated with better employment outcomes (U.S. Department of Labor et. al, 2014).
- Comprehensive work-based training models that involve public-private partnerships, such as apprenticeships, lead to higher earnings than those for individuals who do not participate (Kleinman, 2012).
Columbus State and Lorain County community colleges will highlight key activities that have proven successful and include:
- Manufacturing Night - a manufacturing showcase for Central Ohio high school students that features discussions with academic program faculty, current students, and employers
- Direct educator outreach - consisting of collaboration between college faculty and high school pre-engineering faculty
- Business commitment - As part of being invited to participate in the work-study model, businesses commit to participating in active recruiting events through speaking on employer panels and other activities.
- Manufacturing USA partnerships: LIFT: Manufacturing Readiness, Foundations, MakerMinded; NextFlex: TRAIN OH and FlexFactor (K-12 entrepreneurship focus)
Outreach to high schools will begin with the Central Ohio Compact partner school districts in Central Ohio (including Marysville Exempted Village School District), and through Lorain County Community College’s College Credit Plus/Ohio Tech Prep program, including manufacturing and STEM programs at North Ridgeville Schools, Elyria City Schools, and other CCP partners in Lorain County and Northeast Ohio.
Career-tech high schools such as Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Center, Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County, and Lorain County Joint Vocational School will also be targeted for both student recruitment into manufacturing pathways and for high school teacher professional development. Both schools see these credit-bearing programs as key to expanding access and reducing debt for under-resourced students.
The project will share best practices for recruiting and retaining underserved populations, focusing on students in economically disadvantaged high schools. The project will leverage the best practices effective model from NextFlex entrepreneurship design.
FlexFactor was designed to introduce high school students to the world of flexible hybrid electronics and advanced manufacturing by way of an in-class entrepreneurship project. FlexFactor has students work in teams, guided by a NextFlex mentor, to develop and pitch a business model idea associated with an advanced manufacturing human health or performance-monitoring device. During their journey, they conduct tours at manufacturing facilities, community colleges, and other facilities.