Principles for Quality Education-to-Career Guidance
.jpg)
Today’s postsecondary institutions are addressing several complex challenges, from strengthening enrollment, to advocating for the value and relevance of higher education, to addressing the academic and nonacademic barriers students experience as they pursue their education and career goals. Meaningful progress has been made in recent decades to broaden access to postsecondary education and support students in completing what they started. However, although more students are completing postsecondary education, almost half are not working in college-level employment a decade after graduating.
Guidance in connecting education to a career can make the difference in improving completion and postcompletion outcomes. When grounded in effective practices including proactive outreach and comprehensive support, coaching is associated with improved persistence and graduation rates. The benefits of career-focused support extend beyond graduation as well. More than two-thirds of students who received coaching and guidance to connect their education to a career had a college-level job right out of college.
Yet as powerful as it can be, only 1 in 5 students at four-year institutions and less than 1 in 4 students at two-year institutions currently receive quality education-to-career guidance.
Timely education-to-career guidance can strengthen the connection between education and opportunity.
The Principles for Quality Education-to-Career Guidance were developed by an advisory group of leaders and practitioners from postsecondary education, nonprofit organizations, and workforce development organizations. They came together to identify the practices, services, and resources that are key to supporting students through a successful transition through education and into careers.
Principles for Quality Education-to-Career Guidance
Created by Quality Coaching Advisory Group convened by Strada Education Foundation
- Centered on education-to-career outcomes
- Integrates proactive support for academic success with ongoing career exploration and planning.
- Directs students to identify education programs aligned with career pathways.
- Provides students with timely labor market and career insights for informed academic and career planning.
- Driven by student agency
- Supports students in exploring and recognizing their interests, values, and purpose.
- Guides students in building mindsets, skills, and a sense of belonging critical to success.
- Validates the student’s identity and responds to the student’s personal circumstances and goals.
- Foundational and universal
- Embedded in existing programs and services to ensure students receive guidance early on and continually.
- Engages students proactively and through multiple channels with the support of scalable technologies.
- Reaches and benefits students who have been traditionally least served by postsecondary education.
- Rooted in relationships
- Based in interactions and relationships between students and faculty and staff.
- Connects students to networks, resources, and services and builds social capital.
- Engages students' communities of support.
- Informed by data and evidence
- Leverages data to provide personalized and timely support.
- Incorporates recognized, evidence-based practices.
- Measures outcomes and continually improves through research and evaluation.
.jpg)
With dedicated career coaches in 90 percent of its public high schools, the state connects learners with information about education pathways to high-demand, high-wage jobs.
For January’s National Mentoring Month, Strada staff reflected on how mentors in all their forms have shaped our journeys as students and professionals.
Large-scale systems-level change requires sustained attention and dedication, so when Strada looks back at progress made over the past year, we are inspired by moments that point toward a future in which every person — no matter where they start — can envision a way ahead that is filled with opportunity.
The Principles identify essential strategies for supporting students through quality education-to-career guidance as they transition from education to employment.
While overseeing the organization’s portfolio of affiliates, Cobert also leads multiyear partnerships with mission-aligned nonprofit organizations.
More than 300 education and industry leaders from 36 U.S. states came together to learn from one another about how states are connecting education after high school with economic opportunity.
The following organizations have endorsed the Principles for Quality Education-to-Career Guidance. We asked these organizations: How can the Guiding Principles support your work? Here are some of their responses.
.jpg)
‘For many, having someone in your corner who knows how to translate dreams into plans can make all the difference.’
A new Roadtrip Nation documentary, “Rethinking Higher Ed,” asks: What is required to ensure the path provides the most value for each person? Where do students find guidance as they chose their path? How can we be sure every learner has a guide?
This year the Strada HBCU Initiative celebrates its fourth year — a milestone that includes the graduation of many students in the first cohort of Strada Scholars.
One year after its release, Strada CEO and President Stephen Moret reflects on what has been learned so far and what to expect in the next iteration.
How a student chooses a college major is often the result of personal factors, such as interests, strengths, or education and career guidance.
The institutions receiving the grants will develop innovative approaches to career services and share their knowledge and experiences with other schools.
Strada is extending an invitation for each institution to participate in the State Opportunity Index survey and to receive confidential and benchmarked results, free of cost.
.avif)
Strada’s agenda lays out ambitious steps for improving education and employment systems so students realize the economic value of their education and employers have the talent they need to fill jobs.
Strada’s report, Quality Coaching, looks at students’ experiences across three elements of quality coaching and we examine the experiences of recent graduates. The report also offers insights to leaders, practitioners, and others seeking to improve students’ career outcomes.
Mentors in Tech, supported by a Strada grant, recruits veterans from the Seattle region’s robust tech industry to mentor students at the area’s small, affordable, open-access colleges.
Both Robinson and Love will support the foundation’s efforts to conduct research and develop policy solutions.
The State Opportunity Index was developed to help states build a stronger connection between education after high school and equitable pathways to opportunity so students realize the full value of their education and employers have the workforce they need to fill high-demand jobs.
The gift of time. A recognition of talent. A helping hand. How our mentors helped shape us as people and professionals. A few Strada staff members share their thoughts.
Three-year grants awarded to four institutions will support the expansion of programs designed to help learners succeed during and after completion of their degree or credential.
Phase 2 allows Taskforce on Higher Education and Opportunity members to seek up to $1.5 million ($6.25 million total) to expand efforts to connect education to employment.
Strada announces the winners in the initial phase of a grant challenge aimed at helping higher education institutions improve career and life opportunities for several disadvantaged populations.
The recognized economic and workforce development leader with successful tenures in Virginia and Louisiana will join the national nonprofit in January 2022.
The grant competition seeks to connect learning with employment for first-generation students, those who struggle to afford education, and students of color.