My Degree Counts EMPLOYER TOOLKIT

What doors will a more educated workforce open for your company?

About the Center for Houstons Future and My Degree Counts Center for Houstons Future, The Regions Think Tank, is a 501 c(3) non-profit organization that plans strategically for the region, strengthens the base of diverse business and civic leadership, and informs people, while engaging them in the necessary groundwork, about the regions global future. The Center is an affiliate of the Greater Houston Partnership. My Degree Counts is a campaign, led by the Center for Houstons Future, to increase the regions 2 and 4 -year college graduation rate, and, in so doing, improve the economy. It is the local initiative of the national Talent Dividend Prize, a milliondollar project sponsored by CEOs for Cities. The Greater Houston Partnership supports the Center for Houstons Future and My Degree Counts, and has publicly affirmed its support by passing the Resolution in Support of the Associates Degree Value Initiative.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction Whats in it for employers? 6 2

II. Getting Started Administer Employee Education Attainment Survey Select a My Degree Counts College Champion Get the Word Out!

III. Promote College Knowledge Programs and Degrees Host a College education fair or event

IV. Affordability & Financial Aid Understand the cost of going to college Assist employees with budgeting for college Student Aid

V. Ongoing Support, Assistance, & Recognition Work-Life Balance: Help employees overcome barriers Create a mentoring program Encourage a community of practice or small-group study sessions VI. Contacts & Other Resources

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In the race to future prosperity, nothing will matter more than talent.
The Future of Manufacturing World Economic Forum Report, April 2012

Source: 2010 American Community Survey

INTRODUCTION
Business success in the 21st Century is largely based on the knowledge of your workers. One of the most effective ways to maintain your competitive edge is to invest in the education of your employees. Consider this: The quality of a companys product or service is partially determined by the quality of its employees. An educated workforce has the intellectual capacity to ensure the company achieves maximum proficiency and produces quality products. Companies hoping to maintain or better the quality of their products and services need educated and talented employees who understand and can apply and/or adapt innovative concepts to everyday business.

INTRODUCTION

Whats in it for Employers?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupations that typically need some type of postsecondary education for entry are projected to grow the fastest during the 2010-20 decade.

To keep up with the projected job growth, and maintain a workforce that continues to meet the needs of your company, you must plan now to cultivate a more educated workforce for tomorrow. So whats in it for you? An educated workforce benefits companies in many ways: Enhanced job performance, productivity, innovation, decision-making, teamwork Increased company loyalty Improved recruitment and retention Reduced turn-over and hiring and training costs Increased employee job satisfaction

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For the region, a 1% increase in the four-year college attainment rate would result in an additional $4.2 billion dollars for the economy.

What can YOU do to secure your companys future workforce while advancing the greater Houston region as a sustainable, global competitor? Part of the answer is here, in the My Degree Counts Employer Toolkit. This toolkit presents useful information and resources to help you begin building a more knowledgeable workforce. The My Degree Counts Employer Toolkit will give you the tools your company needs to encourage employees to complete their college degree. It provides resources to help make college more affordable for your employees and their transition back to college more manageable. It also suggests ways you can support them in balancing studies with their work and personal lives.

GETTING STARTED

Administer Employee Education Attainment Survey

The first step recommended is to administer the Employee Survey on Education Attainment to determine the education level of your organizations workforce. Why conduct a survey? Starting with a survey of your workforce accomplishes several things: Provides a basic profile of employees education attainment Serves as a baseline for program evaluation (Consider doing a follow-up survey in a year to evaluate the effectiveness of the program). Presents a clear picture of employees interest in earning a college degree Demonstrates the companys commitment to education Gives employees a voice and sense of inclusion with respect to the direction of the companys education efforts Note: We encourage you to allow respondents to remain anonymous so that employees can be candid in their responses.

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GETTING STARTED

Select a My Degree Counts College Champion

A College Champion supports your employees returning to college and helps them find a solution to issues they may face in completing a college degree. The College Champion will have the knowledge to either help the employee or direct them to someone who can. Their role is to encourage your employees to get into college, continue their studies, and succeed in getting their degree. The College Champion will also play an essential role in communicating important information from leadership to employees. How Does It work? Select an employee to serve as your company-based College Champion. They may be in your Human Resources Department or you may identify someone in another department who has demonstrated some of the interest and skills outlined here: Has strong listening skills Is solution-focused and can identify strategies to resolve issues Is empathetic and diplomatic Can interpret and explain sometimes complex information Is able to provide support and advice, but also recognizes when
to refer others to someone more knowledgeable and/or qualified

Can successfully interact with all levels of management Possesses some knowledge regarding returning to college and is willing to learn more through additional training and support

Get the Word Out!

Determining the best methods to get the word out about My Degree Counts is the next step to helping your employees enroll in school. Educating your employees on the value of a college degree, and directing them to relevant resources on your website, Intranet, and other resources to help them get started will be vital to your communication strategy. The days of just placing a flier on the employee bulletin board are long gone. Today, there are so many different methods of communication available, the choices are nearly endless. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Send a message from the CEO regarding the value of a degree via your Intranet and/or email Post links to My Degree Counts PSA videos to your Intranet, or send links via email, to show your employees how other working adults are making it in college. Examples: Jacqueline T: http://youtu.be/G8rQ-NxDc5g Cassandra Brown: http://youtu.be/YwXVgIvV4Wc David Parra: http://youtu.be/zShxVeQ-OvE Send a weekly email to employees with quick tips and advice on enrolling and succeeding in college

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PROMOTE COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE

Programs and Degrees:

Each college and university in the greater Houston region has a website with information on its programs and courses. However, employees can be quickly overwhelmed researching each site. You can make their search easier by providing links on your company website to degree programs and courses or by providing the link to mydegreecounts.com, through which they can access local college websites.

Host a college education fair or event

A college education fair is an event in which several schools visit your workplace at a convenient time to explain all about returning to college and completing a college degree. A college education fair can help showcase the educational and careerbuilding opportunities available to your employees. You may also consider hosting a brown bag lunch where a representative from a local college can come and speak about their degrees and programs, particularly those that are most relevant to your companys needs. Ask your College Champion to help coordinate an on-site college fair or brown bag lunch.

AFFORDABILITY & FINANCIAL AID

Understand the cost of going to college

College affordability refers to the cost of going to college including tuition, books, fees and other materials, as well as access to financial assistance. These costs are often the biggest barrier for those who want to return to college. For those who are aware there may be financial assistance available, it can seem complicated and confusing to search and apply for financial aid. This requires some research and paperwork, but there are many avenues of help for those willing to pursue a college degree.

Grants Scholarships Work-Study

Awards based on need that do not need to be reAwards based on achievement -- academic, athletic, or service. These are merit-based and do not need to be repaid. Part-time employment that lets a student earn money toward a college education either on or off campus. Money borrowed from a bank, the government, or a school. A student loan must be repaid. However, low interest rates are available, and repayment doesnt start until a student leaves school, drops below part-time status, or graduates.

Student Loans

Waivers

These eliminate certain costs for students who meet certain qualifications set by the postsecondary institution. Financial aid offered to individuals (or their dependents) who were, are, or will be in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Military Benefits

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Assist Employees with budgeting for College

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a financial aid program run by the U.S. Department of Education. A completed FAFSA form will help determine your employees eligibility for federal student aid from at least NINE federal programs including Pell grants, and from hundreds of state-sponsored financial aid programs. A description of each of the federal programs may be found on the Federal Student Aid website:
http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov/about/title4_programs.html

Student Aid

Student aid is generally available in two forms grants that your employees do not have to repay and loans that must be repaid. To be eligible for financial aid, your employees must: Be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or an eligible non-citizen Have a valid Social Security number Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent Be registered with the U.S. Selective Service (for male students, age 18-25) Complete a FAFSA form promising to use any federal aid for education purposes
*FAFSA application can be completed and submitted online at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Not owe refunds on any federal student grants Not be in default on any student loans Not have been found guilty of the sale or possession of illegal drugs while federal aid was being received

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ONGOING SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE & RECOGNITION

Work-Life Balance: Help employees overcome barriers

As working adults, your employees may face challenges with regard to balancing life and work, i.e. child care, time management, emotional stress, etc. We recommend that you make readily available, on your website and/or Intranet, information about various resources to help your employees deal with some of these challenges. Those resources might include some or all of the following free or reduced programs:
CHILD CARE? Encourage your employees to explore their child care options. Let them know that their children should be what drives them, not what holds them back from their degree. HCC Childcare | Lone Star Community College Childcare | YMCA HELP WITH MATH? Many people suffer from a fear of math or math anxiety. Here are some online tools to help your employees achieve success in their math courses. Khan Academy | Virtual Math Lab | Math Videos | Tutor.com LACK OF TIME? Finding the time to go back to school is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest challenges for working adults. We all need more time, but the effort to get your degree will be worth it!!! Time Management Skills | Mind Tools LEGAL STATUS? If you live in Texas, you may still be eligible for in-state college tuition. Texas College Online | Student Voice- Dream Big

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Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Encourage employees to contact your companys EAP and talk to someone when they are feeling overwhelmed or need to talk through a personal issue.

Create a Mentoring Program

A mentorship is a relationship in which an experienced person supports an employee returning to college by sharing wisdom and providing guidance. A mentoring program can be very effective, and can contribute to the education goals of the company and the employee. A mentoring program is an opportunity to get supervisors and front-line managers engaged, and have them demonstrate their support of employees efforts to earn a college degree. How does it work? Mentors provide a support system and encouragement. Its important that the mentor create a social connection with the employee in addition to providing guidance and advice on academic issues. What can you do? Consider establishing a mentorship structure. Although the mentorship relationship may be informal, there should be goals to achieve within a reasonable timeline. Identify and recruit mentors based on specific criteria, such as a course of study, the school an employee is attending, or a family situation.

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Make sure mentors understand the level of commitment and the importance of their role Develop a system to match a mentor with an employee Consider providing meeting space such as a conference room Develop metrics and track your mentoring program. For example, ask your employees to periodically provide feedback on their progress Consider ways to recognize or celebrate the mentors contribution

Encourage a Community of Practice and Small Groups

A Community of Practice is a peer group support system for your employees who are pursuing a college degree. Employees who participate in this form of peer support have a greater chance of completing their degree. What can you do? If you would like to create a Community of Practice within your company: Decide how it should operate. Should employees meet face-to-face (and how often), communicate via email or instant messaging, or participate in a social networking site? Invite employees to attend an informal information session. Publicize the session on your intranet, in your newsletter or using other internal information systems Ask your College Champion to help start up, monitor and support the community
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CONTACTS & OTHER RESOURCES

These local colleges and universities are ready to help your employees get started on the track to completing their college degree TODAY:

Alvin Community College Stephanie Stockstill 281.756.3527 www.alvincollege.edu Brazosport College (Lake Jackson) David Shaw 979.230.3020 www.brazosport.edu College of the Mainland (Texas City) 409.933.8663 www.com.edu DeVry University Kelly Blackstone 713.973.3010 www.hou.devry.edu Galveston College LaToya Mills 409.944.1221 www.gc.edu Houston Baptist University Eduardo Borges 281.649.3299 www.hbu.edu

Houston Community College Mary Lemburg 713.718.8505 www.myhccdegreecounts.o rg Lee College (Baytown) Evonne Morris 281.425.6396 www.lee.edu Lone Star Community College Student Success Center 281.362.7827 www.lonestar.edu Prairie View A&M University Josette Bradford 936.261.1056 www.pvamu.edu San Jacinto College 281.998.6150 www.sanjac.edu Texas Southern University 713.313.7071 www.tsu.edu University of Houston Office of Admissions 713.743.1010 (Option 4) www.uh.edu

University of Houston Downtown Patricia Santos 713.221.8692 www.uhd.edu University of Houston Clear Lake Alvin Johnson 281.283.2637 www.uhcl.edu University of Houston Victoria Jill Fox 361.570.4310 www.uhv.edu University of St. Thomas Arthur Ortiz 713.525.3500 www.stthom.edu Wharton County Junior College 979.532.6303 www.wcjc.edu

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MY DEGREE COUNTS
MY DEGREE COUNTS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Alan Thomson, Boston Consulting Group The Honorable Scott Hochberg, Texas House of Representatives Dr. Richard Carpenter, Lone Star Community College Barbara Paige, RiverRock Group LLC Dr. Mary Spangler, Houston Community College Dr. John Rudley , Texas Southern University Steven Maislin, Greater Houston Community Foundation Dr. Renu Khator, University of Houston Lisa Guqueta, Greater Houston Partnership Dr. Brenda Hellyer, San Jacinto College Kelly Frels, Bracewell & Giuliani Dr. Terry Grier, Houston Independent School District

MY DEGREE COUNTS EMPLOYER SUBCOMMITTEE

Dorothy Ables, Spectra Energy Lucretia Ahrens, CenterPoint Energy Bruce Culpepper, Shell Leslie Fain, Kelly Services Dennis Fox, CB&I Stan Marek, The Marek Companies Marie McDermott, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region Rebecca McGarr, Shell Paul Moskowitz, Sysco Corporation Roxann Neumann, Silver Eagle Distributors, LP Jerry Nevlud, Associated General Contractors of America, Houston Chapter Larry Perkins, Memorial Hermann-TMC Doug Petrie, Siemens Energy, Inc. Rebecca Saavedra, UTMB Health Alan Thomson, Boston Consulting Group Matt Trietsch, Walter P. Moore Trisha Wooten, UTMB

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CENTER FOR HOUSTONS FUTURE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
James Calaway Chairman Eugene H. Vaughan Founding Chairman Catherine C. Mosbacher President and CEO Dorothy Ables Dan Bellow Astley Blair Leslie Blanton Anthony R. Chase Bruce Culpepper James Dannenbaum Bill DeLaney George Donnelly Kelly Frels Harry Gee, Jr. George Y. Gonzalez Thomas D. Gros Brenda Hellyer, Ed.D. John Hofmeiste Lynne Humphries Rick Jaramillo Michael K. Jhin Harris Shrub Kempner Stephen Klineberg, Ph.D. Gene Locke Renee Logans Stan Marek John Mendelsohn, M.D. David McClanahan Jeff Moseley John L. Nau, III Adrian Patterson Juanita Romans Walter Tomlinson Bruce Tough Bobby Tudor Umesh Verma

KEY STAFF
Catherine C. Mosbacher President and CEO Russell Richard Director, Leadership and Graduate Engagement Donna Rybiski Director, Strategic Initiatives Ann Shaw Director, External Affairs Ralph Wheeler Director, Development FOR MY DEGREE COUNTS Sandra Wegmann Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives 713-844-9324 (o) 281-381-8016 (c)

swegmann@futurehouston.org

Advisory Council Linda Addison E. William Barnett Richard Campo Chip Carlisle Phil Conway Rufus Cormier George DeMontrond, III C. Richard Everett Roger Galatas Ned S. Holmes George Martinez David L. Mendez Steven Miller The Honorable Annise Parker James R. Royer The Honorable Bill White E.D. Wulfe Rosie Zamora

Jolea Bryant Project Manager, My Degree Counts 713-844-9351 (o) 281-468-9102 (c)

jbryant@futurehouston.org

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Center for Houstons Future 1200 Smith Street Suite 1150 Houston, TX 77022 P: 713.844.9303 F. 713.844.9348 WWW.FUTUREHOUSTON.ORG Please visit www.mydegreecounts.com My Degree Counts is supported by:

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