Engaging Students in Road Engineering Careers

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD

@NASEMTRB#TRBwebinar

On the Road Again -Engaging Students in Road

Engineering CareersSeptember 16, 2020

The Transportation Research Board

has met the standards and

requirements of the Registered

Continuing Education Providers

Program. Credit earned on completion

of this program will be reported to

RCEP. A certificate of completion will

be issued to participants that have

registered and attended the entire

session. As such, it does not include

content that may be deemed or

construed to be an approval or

endorsement by RCEP.

PDH Certification Information:

•1.5 Professional Development Hour (PDH) – see follow-up email for instructions•You must attend the entire webinar to be eligible to receive PDH credits•Questions? Contact Reggie Gillum at [email protected]

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Learning Objectives

#TRBwebinar

1. Identify successful strategies for attracting students to technical occupations

2. List key elements of successful programs

3. Identify required partners (and their roles) in developing a successful program

CITY AS MODEL EMPLOYER PRESENTATION

On the Road Again: Engaging Students in Road Engineering Careers

Zakiyyah J. Ali, MLD, SHRM-SCP

Director of Workforce Initiatives

City of Philadelphia

September 17, 2020

CITY AS MODEL EMPLOYER

Workforce Provider

Primary Employer

268 Placements (3 years)

Hospitality Careers Program – Cohort 2 Graduates

OVERVIEW

City as Model Employer creates viable pathways to permanent employment

for seasonal and temporary City workers and under/unemployed Philadelphia

residents.

The Program:

• Prepares participants to qualify for City and private sector positions.

• Provides job-specific technical training and career readiness instruction.

• Facilitates job placement to fill vacancies and connect graduates to employment.

“Job training empowers people to realize their dreams and improve their lives.”

Sylvia Matthews Burwell, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

TOOLS AND SOFTWARE

PATHWAYS INTO MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT

City as Model Employer career pathway programs:

1. Fleet Automotive Internship-Apprenticeship Program

2. Water Department Apprenticeship Program

3. Philly Future Track Program

4. Hospitality Careers Program

5. Fleet Automotive Service Training Program

6. PPR Pathways Apprenticeship Program

7. Seasonal-to-Permanent Programs

▪ Free Library of Philadelphia

▪ Community Life Improvement Programs

PHILLY FUTURE TRACK

Program Overview

➢ Launched in 2012 by the Streets Department; re-designed in FY19

➢ Five-month career readiness and workforce development program

➢ 20‒40 participants per annual cohort

➢ Recruit job seekers with limited or no work experience from Philadelphia communities

➢ Participants employed in Future Track Trainee job title earning City’s minimum wage

➢ Work-based experiential learning and training via crew-based field assignments

➢ Career readiness and professional development trainings (instructor-led and online)

➢ Technical training and industry-recognized credential attainment (OSHA‐10)

➢ Performance assessments, mentoring and coaching, and supportive services

➢ Municipal career pathway support and job placement assistance for private sector positions

RECRUITMENT ASPECTS

Eligibility Requirements

➢ Be at least 18 years of age

➢ Be a current resident of the City of Philadelphia

➢ Possess a high school diploma or equivalency

➢ Have reliable transportation (e.g. public transit, car)

➢ Have a strong desire to attain and retain full-time employment

Skills and Abilities

➢ Is respectful and has a positive attitude

➢ Works well with others and is a team player

➢ Possesses a strong desire to provide excellent customer service

➢ Exhibits a willingness to learn, grow and develop oneself

➢ Follows instructions and is open to feedback

➢ Takes pride in one’s work and job performance

RECRUITMENT PARTNERS

Share Program Flyer with Partners during two-week Open Enrollment Period

➢ Workforce and training providers

➢ Community-based organizations

➢ Faith-based organizations

➢ City Council members and staff

➢ City departments: anti-violence; youth aging out of foster care

➢ Municipal workforce via employee newsletter

➢ City as Model Employer current participants and alumni

HIRING PROCESS

Key Steps

➢ Submit online application and answer screening questions

➢ Complete skills and literacy assessments

➢ Attend mandatory information session

➢ Engage in a panel interview

➢ Pass pre-employment drug screen

➢ Pass pre-employment medical evaluation

➢ Attend new hire orientation session

➢ Work uniform and steel-toe boots

➢ Personal protective equipment

➢ Program binder and employee handbook

CAREER TRACKS

Neighborhood Beautification

Roadway Maintenance

Public Works Maintenance

Trainee

Traffic Investigation

Engineering Aide Trainee

Field Investigator

Field Investigator

8 weeks

12 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks

Civil Service Positions

Future Track Trainee

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

On

-th

e-J

ob

Tra

inin

g

Civ

il S

erv

ice

Po

siti

on

▪ Maintain and repair streets

and roadways

▪ Repair deteriorating roadway

surfaces

▪ Assist higher-level

maintenance workers with

preparing roadways for repair

▪ Perform line striping work

Public Works

Maintenance Trainee

Roadway Maintenance

Assignment

$35,743 annually

$18.33 hourly

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

COHORT COMPARISONS: PERFORMANCE

Performance FY18 Cohort FY19 Cohort* FY20 Cohort*

Term

January 22, 2018

thru

July 2, 2018

January 28, 2019

thru

June 28, 2019

January 27, 2020

June 26, 2020

thru

May 15, 2020

Enrollment 46 20 24

Graduated 23 (50%) 16 (80%) Anticipated: (22) (92%)

Graduate Placement 9 (39%) 11 (69%) N/A

Graduate Retention 9 (100%) 10 (91%) N/A

*Philly Future Track program transitioned to City as Model Employer administration.

COHORT COMPARISONS: DEMOGRAPHICS

Demographics FY18 Cohort (46) FY19 Cohort (20)* FY20 Cohort (24)*

Average Age 28 31 28

Race & Ethnicity

Black = 34

White = 2

Hispanic = 1

Asian = 0

Two or more races = 1

Not Disclosed = 8

Black = 18

White = 2

Hispanic = 0

Asian = 0

Two or more races = 0

Not Disclosed = 0

Black = 19

White = 3

Hispanic = 1

Asian = 0

Two or more races = 1

Not Disclosed = 0

Gender

Male = 31

Female = 12

Not Disclosed = 3

Male = 16

Female = 4

Not Disclosed = 0

Male = 22

Female = 2

Not Disclosed = 0

Driver’s License

No = 23

Yes = 17

Not Disclosed = 6

No = 9

Yes = 11

Not Disclosed = 0

No = 3

Yes = 21

Not Disclosed = 0

THANK YOU!

On the Road Again--Engaging Students in Road Engineering Careers

TRB WebinarSeptember 16, 2020

GovernmentW

omen

in T

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port

atio

n In

itiat

ive

Expe

rient

ial L

earn

ing

Prog

ram

Spring 2020

Partners in Developing a Successful Program

U.S. Department of TransportationOffice of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

Women of AsphaltWe lead and inspire women in the asphalt industry

University of Florida Transportation InstituteEngineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment

Integral role government, academia and industry working in unison, plays in road maintenance, operations, and construction.

Who They Are? What They Gained?

Narrated Site Tours

3 academic

credits8 weeks

experiential learning

8 weeks in-class

theoretical learningDivision/

department briefings

Asphalt sector

curriculum

STEM-T Cohort

§ Experiential and theoretical learning activities§ Exposure to industry expertise § Interface with workforce for practical

experience§ Networking, coaching and mentoring

opportunities

Successful Strategies for Attracting Students to Technical Occupations

§ Identify and engage the right partners § Obtain Buy–In from relevant

stakeholders § Agree on objectives and outcomes§ Develop SMART Action Plan § Offer Incentives for participants

Key Elements for a Successful Program

§ Share best practices with industry peers.§ Report/publish program outcomes.§ Build upon success(es) and adjust for

weaknesses. § Endeavor to scale program and establish

as benchmark for the industry. § Nurture relationships.

Closing the Gap:Institutionalizing a pipeline program

Contact Us

Write us: U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Room W56-489Washington, DC 20590

Email us: [email protected]

Phone: 202-366-1930800-532-1169305-237-1392

Visit the OSDBU website at: https://www.transportation.gov/content/office-small-and- disadvantaged-business-utilization

Questions on everyone’s mind?

ENGAGING STUDENTS IN ROAD ENGINEERING CAREERS

Cheryl Jackson-Darden & Angela ParsleyTalent Acquisition Manager STEM Coordinator

The Virginia Department of Transportation

September 2020

• Aging worker demographic & long training periods for specific positions

• Lack of transportation-specific programs in Virginia

• Limited awareness of the many career options available in transportation

• Students know what they see.

Today’s Workforce Challenge

Virginia Department of Transportation

• Community College Partnerships

• Secondary Education Partnerships (STEM/K-12)

Solutions

Virginia Department of Transportation

Tidewater Community College (TCC) partnership- Prior land surveyor career study certification (1 year) offered at Tidewater CC- VDOT collaborated with TCC to develop a 2 year apprenticeship program

- Online training through Tidewater CC- Work experience at VDOT

Land Surveyor Apprenticeship Program

Virginia Department of Transportation

Lessons Learned- Payment agreement so VDOT would get the bill versus the students- A special math assessment that includes pre-calculus- CC assists students with course needs, tutors, etc.

Two-year Apprenticeship ProgramWork Experience as an Employee at VDOTCourses through the Community Colleges

Construction Inspector Apprenticeship Program

Virginia Department of Transportation

• 12 Material Certification Courses• 6 Construction Inspector Courses• VDOT provided trainers to assist the community

colleges until qualified instructors were found• Solid career path

• Trainee• Inspector• Inspector Sr.• Construction Manager• Area Construction Engineer

Connect with teachers

• Professional development workshops with lessons & resources • Virginia Technology and Engineering Educator’s Association

(VTEEA)• Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST)• VA Children’s Engineering Council (VCEC)

• Virginia Dept. of Education & associations help promote the transportation resources & lessons

K-12 Partnerships

Virginia Department of Transportation

• Academies of Hampton • Hampton City Public Schools student were given a research project and

presented recommendations to our Area District Administrator and other engineers

• Virginia Tech Pathways for Future Engineers• Partnership that connected VDOT engineers with first generation college

students looking to pursue engineering

• Workshops for other student groups• Technology Student Assoc., NSBE Jr., WTS collaboration

K-12 Partnerships

Virginia Department of Transportation

Virginia Department of Transportation

Next Steps Moving to the VDOT of Tomorrow• Increase online learning options• Add a 4-5 year Land Surveyor program with a college or university• STEM loaner kits for Virginia schools

• ITS / Transportation Sensors• Technical Drawing

Moderator: Stephanie Ivey

Adriana Clark, US DOT OSDBU

Today’s Panelists#TRBWebinar

Zakiyyah Ali, City of Philadelphia

Angela Parsley

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