The new Consortium for Instructional Excellence and Career Guidance has been formed to provide faculty members innovative teaching practices that effectively serve the career-development needs of students.
A recent study in Sociology of Education indicated that first-generation and low-income college students are less likely to experience and seek support, engage with their professors, find internships and complete their degrees in four years. Additionally, the 2017 Strada-Gallup College Student Survey found that despite the presence of academic and career counseling on virtually every campus, at-risk students may not seek such services.
In response, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) are partnering to prepare faculty members to use effective teaching practices while also providing career guidance within their courses. The program will reach as many as 500 faculty members from 20 to 25 CIC member institutions.
The program is made possible by a $1.2 million grant from the Strada Education Network, which is focused on completion with a purpose — providing pathways between education and employment.
The process began with CIC member institutions applying to participate. Dr. David Brailow, CIC vice president for development, said institutions will be selected based on several criteria, including level of commitment to the concept of career guidance from faculty.
The program will begin with the fall 2018 semester. ACUE is developing two modules that can apply to various types of courses. Preparing Students with 21st-Century Career-Ready Skills will focus on helping students develop skills such as effective communication and analytic thinking, and Embedding Career Guidance is designed to help faculty members talk to students and incorporate strategies in their courses that connect students with career pathways.
Some of the curriculum will come from existing ACUE evidence-based teaching practices that have been shown to increase student engagement, learning and success. An example would be planning for and facilitating effective class discussions.
