Miss America and the importance of STEM education

Friday, May 10th, 2013

As the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) announced the allocation of some STEM-related funds, Miss America joined business leaders and policy makers in championing the importance of STEM education in a press conference on Friday at the Salt Lake Chamber.

The Utah Legislature appropriated $10 million for a STEM Action Center during the 2013 session. Sophia DeCaro, deputy director of GOED, announced $1.5 million will go to establish a director, staff and board. $5 million will be dedicated to math skill building in sixth, seventh and eighth grades, while $3.5 million will go to juniors and seniors in high school for college math readiness.

“If we don’t give our children an education that provides them an edge, their future jobs will be taken from them by students in China, India or the rest of the world,” said Stan Lockhart of IM Flash and private sector chair for Utah’s STEM Education Initiative. “What can we do to give them an edge? What can we do to teach them the skills that allow them to compete in this digital world we live in? What it comes down to is this: science, technology, engineering and math.”

Mallory Hagan, the reigning Miss America, says she expressed great interest in math and science in middle school thanks to passionate teachers who cared about her success. “But [in high school] we had teachers who were making sure we made good grades on tests but not making sure we could comprehend any of the information. That’s a hard lesson to learn when you’re a freshman in bio-medical science.”

Hagan has since changed her educational path to marketing with a focus in cosmetics and fragrance, but wishes she had learned back in her formative years the “cool” jobs that she could have from pursuing more math and science, like making lipstick and mascara and not just wearing it.

Today, she encourages mentorship as part of an education to show students what kinds of opportunities are available to them, since dissecting frogs and learning about atoms doesn’t give them the whole scope what of what they are able do.

“There are so many kids across the nation who don’t have a favorite subject, who don’t enjoy school, and they are in the first, second and third grade. That’s really disheartening because we want kids to want to learn. We need to catch them early on otherwise there’s no hope for the rest of their education process.”

And a quality education can help make the difference, whether that’s in only in making good grades to get to college or making an actual difference in the world as many STEM-related jobs are able to do.

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Business leaders thank lawmakers for investing in education

Friday, March 29th, 2013

With just over a week remaining in the 2013 General Legislative Session, the business community supporting the Prosperity 2020 movement encouraged the Legislature to focus on three unifying elements of a bold, multi-year education agenda.

The Utah State Legislature delivered.

Earlier this week, Randy Shumway, president and CEO of the Cicero Group and vice chair of Prosperity 2020, was a guest on KSL News Radio’s Doug Wright Show to discuss the bills passed to invest in the next generation of Utahns.

“This is a good legislature, a fiscally prudent legislature that, because of their wisdom over the years, we had monies to invest in education this year,” says Shumway. “While other states are hemorrhaging, our state is investing–not just in the short term, but in the long-term for the betterment of our children.”

The original call to action from the business community came by way of a full-page advertisement that ran in both the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. Shumway also did an interview with Wright the following day explaining why the business community supported education-strengthening legislation.

“The business community is the largest customer of education; we’re the ones hiring all of these graduates,” Shumway told Doug Wright. “So we have a vested interest in the quality of student learning. Education is the key to enduring prosperity. It’s critical to note that it’s not merely an economic motivation. This is a moral prerogative. We owe it to the next generation to give them the highest quality education possible.”

The Legislature did three things to invest in education this session:

-   Passed a joint resolution adopting the twin goals of 90 percent reading and math proficiency in elementary schools, and 66 percent of all Utah adults with a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2020

-   Made strategic investments toward measurable goals

-   Committed to develop a collaborative and united education plan

“We have to create a strategic plan. We spend billions of dollars on public education, K-12 as well as higher education,” says Shumway. “Yet the relevance and depth of what a student and a graduate needs to know and what they need to be able to do is constantly evolving. The state needs a unified plan specifying the objectives, the different audiences we need to serve and how we can best achieve those desired objectives for each demographic at the lowest cost and at the best return on investment. And the Legislature this year committed to focus on and invest in that area, and I believe there will be bills that come of that next year.”

Jobs that require STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) will grow at 17 percent compared to 9.8 percent growth for non-STEM occupations over the next six to seven years. These are jobs that pay 50-75 percent more than other comparable jobs.

“These are creating family-sustaining careers for Utahns,” says Shumway. “We need to establish systemic change that will propel greater innovation, greater accountability and greater investment in the long-term and short-term education needs in our state.”

 

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Prosperity 2020 runs full page ad to thank legislators, sets goals for home stretch

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

In Sunday’s Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune, business leaders supporting the Prosperity 2020 movement expressed their thanks for the Legislature’s support of education thus far in the session and laid out three unifying elements of a bold, multi-year education agenda.

This morning, Randy Shumway, president and CEO of the Cicero Group and vice chair of Prosperity 2020, discussed the business community’s recommendations for education priorities with Doug Wright on KSL News Radio.

“The business community is heavily vested in the quality of education in the state,” says Shumway. “We’re the ones hiring all of these graduates. So we decided, let’s demonstrate our appreciation for all that the governor and Legislature are doing, as well as the message of how important education is as we come to the end of this legislative session.”

In the ad, Prosperity 2020 specifically asks the Legislature to:

1. Pass a joint resolution adopting the twin goals of 90 percent reading and math proficiency in elementary schools and 66 percent of adults with a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2020.

2. Make strategic investments toward these measurable goals. As a starting point, and with appreciation for the budget challenges Utah faces, we recommend the following new investments in education: $20 million for higher education’s 66 percent plan, $15 million for a STEM action center, $9 million for additional postsecondary certificates, $20 million for early intervention and children at risk, $1 million for ACT exams for every high school student and full commitment to fund computer-adaptive testing in Utah schools.

3. Commit to the development of a collaborative, 10-year unified education plan that can be adopted by the end of 2014.

“We’ve had a lot of very positive responses–in particular from our legislators saying thank you in particular for delineating what the three priorities ought to be in improving student learning,” says Shumway. “There isn’t a parent, a student, or a business leader out there that does not care about the education of our students. This is our way of saying that during tough times, we have to make priorities, and these are the three things in education on which we ought to be focused.”

At a time when our elected officials face a lot of demand from various groups, Shumway says the business community wanted to thank them for all they do—and all they have consistently done to strengthen the Utah economy over the past few decades.

“We have to remember that we are the best run state in the country for a reason,” he says. “We have a good legislature and a great governor. They are committed to improving education. The business community is simply trying to serve as a catalyst to help all stakeholders focus on the right things to ensure the maximum return on investment in improving student learning.”

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UCAT on track to help Utah reach 66 percent goal

Monday, March 4th, 2013

Boosting technical education is one of the business community’s legislative priorities for 2013. One of those priorities, as outlined in the Chamber’s 2013 Public Policy Guide is a $9.75 million investment in increased capacity at the Utah College of Applied Technology campuses to achieve 153,000 additional certificates by 2020.

And there’s good data to show this would be a good investment. New statistics released by the Utah College of Applied Technology show that program completion and job placement rates for students reached an all-time high for 2012.

“These completion and placement rates are a reflection of UCAT’s success and focus on training for the jobs and skills that Utah companies need most,” says UCAT President Rob Brems. “Our campuses are on track with our mission to meet the needs of Utah’s employers for technically-skilled workers.”

UCAT campuses reported that 87 percent of students who completed certificate programs were hired in their field or placed in additional education during 2012. This greatly exceeds the national accreditation standard of 70 percent. Eighty-one percent of enrolled students completed their programs, a record high and a six percent bump from the year before.

Certificates awarded at UCAT campuses play an important role in helping Utah achieve its goal of having 66 percent of adults with a post-secondary degree or certificate by the year 2020—a goal that both the Governor’s Education Excellence Commission and Prosperity 2020 are aiming for.

“The thousands of post-secondary certificates awarded to Utahns each year by UCAT campuses are an integral part of our state goal, ‘On Pace to 66 percent by 2020,’” says Utah Gov. Gary Herbert. “UCAT is meeting and surpassing its goals, making it a wise investment that will reap great rewards for our citizens and state economy.”

“UCAT is answering a business and industry call to triple the number of certificates awarded by 2020,” says Prosperity 2020 Chair Mark Bouchard. “We congratulate the eight UCAT campuses for their success and increased role in building the best-trained workforce in the nation.”

In order to continue accreditation, the eight applied technology college campuses must meet annual performance standards for program completion, job placement and licensure established by the Council on Occupational Education, a national agency that accredits career and technical institutions.

To encourage more Utahns to consider pursuing a technical certificate, UCAT has also recently launched its “Certify Your Future” campaign. Unlike a bachelor’s degree that could take up to four or five years to complete, technical certificates are typically earned in a year or less. And according to a 2012 study by The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, they are the fastest-growing post-secondary credential in the United States. The study also found that workers with certificates earn 20 percent more, on average, than workers with only high school diplomas.

How else do you feel we can increase the number of certificates/degrees conferred upon Utahns to reach the 66 percent goal? 

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Higher education discussion with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

On Tuesday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce collaborated with the National Campus Leadership Council, Institute for a Competitive Workforce and Young Invincibles to facilitate a seminar focused on the interjection of the private sector in higher ed. This event attracted Student Body Presidents from over ten states across the country including Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Utah, Missouri and Maryland.

Aaron Starks, the president of the Utah Student Association who also serves as the student body president at Salt Lake Community College and is interning here at the Salt Lake Chamber this semester, was part of a panel discussion about creating solutions to problems within the system of higher education at the national level.

Throughout the discussion each panel member vocally expressed the benefit in producing post-graduation data. The panel unanimously agreed that such data would promote college completion and help students make informed decisions in their choosing of institutions.

Starks touched on the progress of the Prosperity 2020 movement to enhance education in Utah, and expressed appreciation for business leaders’ willingness to reach out to students.

“Both business leaders and students cannot do this alone,” says Starks.

In Utah, the Prosperity 2020 movement is the largest business-led movement to enhance education in state history, with seventeen chambers of commerce and industry associations backing the cause. Goals of Prosperity 2020 include reaching 66 percent of adults with post-secondary degrees or certificates, 90 percent of elementary students proficient in math and reading, and making Utah a top 10 tech center for jobs and business–all by the year 2020.

Thanks to the Business Promise, 20,200 volunteers will also be deployed to schools statewide to help students reach their potential. It will take innovation, accountability and investment to achieve better educational outcomes and to ensure future prosperity for our economy.

“I can see more clearly a space for the private sector in higher education,” Starks says reflecting on his experience with the forum. “Without representation from the business community, students will struggle  to begin their academic careers with the end in mind. The private sector must extend their reach and reinvest efforts to train students, provide internship opportunities and hold administrators and professors accountable.”

Click HERE to watch the forum. It is rather long, but the panel discussion begins at around 14 minutes in.

 

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Investment in education vital for American competitiveness

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

The head of the General Electric Foundation spent Wednesday meeting with elected officials and business leaders to reinforce the connection between an educated workforce and the ability to thrive in the global marketplace.

Bob Corcoran, the president and chairman of the GE Foundation, shared three recommendations for the business leaders that gathered from across the state:

1. Help Prosperity 2020

2. Be a lightning rod on educational issues

3. Be a steel rod; be the extra rebar that helps decision makers withstand the pressure

Utah taking steps in the right direction
Corcoran says Utah’s adoption of the goal to have 66 percent of all Utah adults hold a college degree or skilled trade certificate by the end of the decade is impressive.

“I’m not aware of another state in the country that has taken that kind of step to take on a goal like that for itself,” he says. “The movement to set high standards for college and career readiness is very good but 46 other states are doing the same thing. That’s necessary to compete. The work the business community has done is actually distinctive.”

It’s important to adopt a strong internationally competitive standard for what children should learn, know and be able to do. Breaking down the testing of those skills by grade level can help make sure every student is on point to succeed in their education. Prosperity 2020 has a goal of having 90 percent of third and sixth graders proficient in reading and math by the year 2020.

“The jobs we have require a higher educated workforce,” Corcoran says also noting that an educated population ushers in a lifetime of opportunity for everyone. A quality education not only increases the chances of finding a job and contributing to the economy, but also to an increase in quality of life and being able to provide for a family. The ability to send our children to school and have them master skills like analytic problem solving and comprehension can make a huge difference.

“Good quality education levels the playing field for all kids,” he says. “That investment is crucial. They are going to be working for you one day, but if they are really good, you may end up working for them.”

A changing world
We live in a completely different world than we did two decades ago. The way we work, the way we communicate and the way we play have been transformed. The way we learn has to evolve as well.

Corcoran pointed out that America used to be the number one country when it came to the number of high school graduates (under the age of 30) per capita. Today we are tenth in the world.

“This is a huge problem for us,” Corcoran says, adding that one of the most significant shifts is that states no longer face competition just from other states when it comes to business recruitment and attracting top talent. He says in the 21st century, the 50 states collectively face strong competition from other countries.

“Americans have this view that the world is not as good as us,” Corcoran said. “Maybe 20 years ago that may have been partially true.”

Countries like China that used to struggle are now producing some of the top engineering talent in the world, putting the United States behind the educational curve.

“We’re losing jobs to other countries,” Corcoran said. “They are saying that our educational system isn’t good enough for them.”

And that, too, is a big problem at home. We need the skilled and educated workforce to fill increasingly complex and mentally rigorous jobs, and to create businesses. In order to ensure we have  that workforce, a solid education system is necessary.

“Economic competitiveness is based on how strong our education is,” says Corcoran.

 

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Prosperity 2020 ad hits the Super Bowl

Monday, February 4th, 2013

Right after the game clock declared the Baltimore Ravens the champions of the 47th Super Bowl, Prosperity 2020 got a few seconds among the most coveted advertising spots of the year.

In case you aren’t already aware, Prosperity 2020 is the state’s largest business-led movement to help improve education. The Salt Lake Chamber along with more than 20 other chambers of commerce and business assocations are committing our best efforts to improve innovation, investment, accountability and collaboration in Utah’s education system.

For the past three years, Prosperity 2020 has worked with the Governor’s Educational Excellence Commission, our partners in the Legislature and education leadership to create a plan to build the strongest economy in the national through purposeful innovation and investment in education. The plan has been approved by the governor, Utah State Office of Education, Utah College of Applied Technology, Utah System of Higher Education and the Prosperity 2020 Founders’ Council. Legislative approval will be a major focus in the coming year.

As the advertisement above suggests, you can make a difference too. There are a couple things you can do to help further enhance our education system:

1.  Express your support for Prosperity 2020 to your legislators. Click here to find their contact information.
2.  Volunteer with the Prosperity 2020 Business Promise. Click here to volunteer. Help a child learn to read. Promote math skills and interest in STEM fields to help children see the future and obtain the skills they need to compete in a global and growing economy.

Help Utah’s economy not hit a blackout in the years to come and act today. Preserve our education and help kids succeed that way there may be a constant beacon of light towards the future.

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Prosperity 2020 unveils plan for education, 2013 legislative priorities

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

Supporters of Prosperity 2020 today unveiled a business prospectus—a plan to increase innovation, investment and accountability in education to make Utah the strongest economy in the nation. The business-led movement has built significant momentum heading into the 2013 General Legislative Session.

“If the largest population of young people in the country is well educated, everything else falls into place,” said Mark Bouchard, senior managing partner of CBRE and chair of Prosperity 2020. “This prospectus is more than just smart business strategy, it’s about people.”

The prospectus outlines Utah’s current economic situation, education warning signs, the business community’s vision and goals, and the plan to pay for Prosperity 2020’s priorities for the 2013 General Legislative Session.

“We are committed to the goal that 66 percent of all Utah adults will have a college degree or skilled trade certificate by the year 2020,” said Bouchard. “We need to make the decisions today that will get us there because the market will demand that we do.”

Utah economy
Utah is in the midst of an unprecedented economic, demographic and cultural transformation. In a globally competitive and rapidly changing economy, complacency is a recipe for decline. Utah boasts the fifth-fastest growing economy and the sixth lowest unemployment rate in the nation. Elements including low business costs, a modern transportation infrastructure, fiscally responsible government and a high quality of life all contribute to Utah’s economic strength. But education is one area where improvement is critical.

“Our economy is at the front of the line,” said Natalie Gochnour, chief economist at the Salt Lake Chamber.

Nelson Laboratories, a locally owned microbiology testing business with nearly 500 employees, added 17 new employees this week and is looking to hire more. But the difficulty of finding workers with the right education threatens their ability to grow.

“It doesn’t take much for that to become our leading constraint to growth,” said Jeff Nelson, CEO of Nelson Laboratories. “There’s reality to that and education is the way to make that better, not just for business like us but for all businesses. I think it is key to the economic growth of our state.”

Education warning signs
By 2050 nearly one-third of Utah’s population will be comprised of racial and ethnic minorities. The state is diversifying faster than any other region in the nation. A diverse population requires early intervention to position students for success.

“In a global economy that is rapidly changing, you will fall behind. Our business leaders have seen education warning signs and those become red flags to the economy,” said Gochnour.

Utah students produce test scores lower than peer states, and our college completion rate is declining. Utah’s high school graduation rate is in the bottom half of the country with only 76 percent of students who reach ninth grade ultimately graduating from high school. The results are worse for minorities with only 57 percent of Latino students graduating, the fourth lowest rate in the nation.

Vision and goals
Prosperity 2020 has set three goals to help Utah fulfill its economic potential.

Goal 1 — By 2020, 66 percent of Utah adults need to have a college degree or post-secondary certificate. Currently, 43 percent of Utahns have post-secondary certificates or degrees.

Goal 2 —By 2020, 90 percent of elementary students must be proficient in reading and mathematics. Currently, approximately 75-80 percent of Utah students meet this goal.

Goal 3 — By 2020, the Salt Lake metro area must rank among the STEM Top Ten for technology and business. Utah currently ranks 11th in the nation for technology jobs as a share of total employment, but 36th among states for technology jobs and businesses.

“We don’t do anything in this state that doesn’t touch education,” said Sen. Jerry Stevenson, Republican from Dist. 21. “We need a culture change in this state and I think we’re moving in that direction. Part of that is the business community has come on so well.”

The plan
Business leaders want the Legislature to pass a joint resolution calling for 66 percent of Utah adults to have postsecondary certificates by 2020. The list of legislative priorities also includes $43.6 million in strategic investment in public education including computer adaptive testing, early intervention and programs for children at risk, as well as ACT testing for every high school student, STEM priorities, and integrated arts and academics.

A strategic investment of $20 million for higher education priorities including STEM and health profession investment, increased use of instructional technologies, more online courses and more concurrent enrollment.

The plan also includes $9.75 million for technical education to triple the number of Utahns with postsecondary certificates by the end of the decade.

“We spent three years developing this plan,” said Mark Bouchard, chair of Prosperity 2020 and senior managing partner at CBRE. “It’s well thought out and it will continue to mature and change. It’s very reasonable for us to consider what we’re doing in education today and going forward an investment, because we can measure it and we are investing in something very specific.”

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Prosperity 2020 – Making Salt Lake a top ten center

Friday, September 7th, 2012

Governor Gary Herbert joined with Prosperity 2020 business and education partners Thursday to launch a partnership that will establish the greater Salt Lake area as a top ten center for technology jobs and businesses.

“Great jobs and businesses start with well educated workers,” the governor said. “By  bringing industry and education together we start recruiting tomorrow’s scientists in today’s classrooms. Utah technology jobs pay 57 percent more than the state’s average wage. This improves individual lives and the economy.”

To learn more about this initiative and who will be leading it, see Prosperity 2020′s blog.

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Education is serious business

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

 

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on KSL.com on August 1. 

Nothing is as critical to a healthy economy as a well-educated and well-trained workforce. That applies to Utah’s ability to compete with the rest of the nation just as it applies to the ability of the United States to compete with the world. Businesses understand the importance of a first-class workforce and, here in Utah, they have shown a determination to make a difference. Eighteen chambers of commerce, economic development agencies and other education-minded business organizations have signed on to the Prosperity 2020 movement. They have set three specific education goals to reach by the end of the decade:

  • 90 percent of all third graders, and 90 percent of all sixth graders to be proficient in reading and mathematics
  • Two-thirds of all Utah adults to hold a college degree or skilled-trade certificate
  • Salt Lake metropolitan area to rank in the Top 20 for concentration in science and engineering occupations

Business leaders understand change comes at a slower pace than many would like. That’s why Prosperity 2020 is a decade-long approach to such an essential element of our economic success.

Steps in the right direction

During the 2012 legislative session, the Prosperity 2020 movement advanced in several important ways. Hang around business leaders enough and you will repeatedly hear them say you cannot improve something unless you can measure it.

The Legislature passed a number of bills to give teachers increased access to tools to better assess student performance, allowing them to tailor their teaching to areas where students need the most attention. It is important to work with the Legislature and other elected officials to ensure Utah students get a quality education. But business leaders are not stopping there.

This week, business leaders introduced the Prosperity 2020 Business Promise, setting the goal of deploying 20,200 volunteers to Utah classrooms. The goal is simple: improve Utah’s educational outcomes by helping children learn reading, math and other important skills.

“Prosperity 2020 is calling for increased investment, innovation and accountability to achieve ambitious goals, but we aren’t standing by,” said Mark Bouchard, chair of Prosperity 2020 and senior managing director of CBRE, a Fortune 400 commercial real estate company with a significant presence in Utah. “Our Business Promise is a commitment to do our part by deploying 20,200 school volunteers. One student at a time, we will help raise the bar of success.”

The Prosperity 2020 Business Promise helps businesses connect their employees with opportunities to serve in schools and postsecondary institutions across the state via a web portal. From the hundreds of potential partnerships available on the site, businesses can find the program or school that best fits the resources they can give. One of those partnerships is KSL’s Read Today, a program dedicated to helping every child read and learn.

A workforce to fill the jobs

Utah’s economy is growing at twice the rate of the nation as a whole, adding over 25,000 jobs in the past 12 months. A quick glance at the list of businesses that are investing in Utah makes it clear we will need a first-class workforce to power our economy in the decades ahead. From Goldman Sachs to Adobe to ATK, and from Hexel Corporation, IM Flash and Intermountain Healthcare, we need to help today’s Utah students gain the skills and knowledge they need to power our economy and to create businesses and industries we cannot imagine today.

You can learn more about the Prosperity 2020 movement and the Utah Business Promise at prosperity2020.com.

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