Cynthia supplies a great resource for us here.  The combination of this
resource and Tom Sticht's essay certainly beg the question of how we can
encourage our learners to consider the value of the credential
programs/training programs they are looking to transition to to better
their financial situations.  (To review Tom's essay, go to the Workplace
List archives at http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Workplace/, click
on "Read Current Posted Messages" at the top of the page, and look for
post #614.) In the transitioning you do with your adult learners, how do
you go about this?  What resources can learners use to determine if they
are making the best use of their resources of time, energy, and money in
training for a specific occupation?

Donna

Donna Brian, Moderator
Workplace Literacy Discussion List
djgbrian at utk.edu 

-----Original Message-----
From: Cynthia Zafft
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 11:57 AM
To: workplace at nifl.gov
Subject: [Workplace 618] Re: Education/Skills/Lost Wages

Dear One and All:

Along with the credential/literacy tradeoffs that can occur, Tom's paper
reminded me of the saying: "Buyer Beware!"   This is especially true
when it comes to postsecondary certificate programs.  Many certificates
(especially several in healthcare right now) provide a great step up in
pay, benefits, and job stability but it takes a considerable bit of
investigation to make sure a particular certificate will have an
economic payoff in a specific location.  This is especially true for
many adult learners who are established in their community and won't be
moving to where the jobs are.

One of the Research-to-Practice Briefs on our website (National College
Transition Network at World Education) talks about this investigation
and gives some concrete suggestions.  It is based on below-baccalaureate
degrees research by W. Norton Grubb and his take-home message is:
"Credential programs are better than non-credential programs; longer
programs are better than shorter; and students need to worry if
certificates have any established LOCAL market value."  To read the
brief, see http://www.collegetransition.org/promising/rp7.html 



Cynthia Zafft, Director
National College Transition Network (NCTN) World Education, Inc.
44 Farnsworth Street
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 482-9485
www.collegetransition.org 


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