CTCs + AAS + BAS Career Pathways
designed for ALL Students
Bachelor of Applied Science
The New High Priority Occupational Credential
National Need
90 million Americans
do not possess the
necessary skills to
work in a global
economy.
www.luminafoundation.org/about_us/president/speeches/2011-09-09.html
• January 25, 2011
President Barack Obama
• State of the Union Address
“ In a single generation, America has
fallen from 2nd place to 11th place in the
proportion of students completing
college…. By 2025, we want 60 percent
of Americans to hold high-quality
college degrees and credentials.”
Pennsylvania Need
 In 2011, only 43 percent of PA adults
between 25-34 earned an associate degree
or higher.
 50 of the 67 counties are projected to have
7811 fewer HS Graduates 2008-2020.
 How will PA make up the 17 percent gap to
achieve 60 percent? Or support workforce?
www.achieve.org/files/Pennsylvania-CCR_FactSheet-Sept2012.docx
PASSHE Role
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education:
 Comprised of 14 public Universities, is the
largest provider of higher education in the
Commonwealth of PA enrolling 120,000
students
Is mission-driven to provide access to programs
designed to meet the Commonwealth needs
PASSHE Institutions in Rural & Urban Counties
http://www.rural.palegislature.us/ruralcounties.html
Feedback from Stakeholders
• CTE training and A.A.S degree graduates,
although technically skilled, may be limited in
career advancement.
• The A.A.S degree is no longer a terminal degree.
• A critical need exists for a baccalureate degree
pathway for technical program graduates that
integrates with Career Technical Education and
4-year universities
Critical to the Commonwealth
New programs must address the current and
continued health of the Commonwealth
• High Priority Occupations (HPO’s)
• Impact of the global economy
• Employers’ stated
need for a workforce
with both technical
and professional skills
We Responded!
New Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree:
• A career-oriented degree that addresses issues CTE
Directors have been raising for some time
• Provides educational opportunities
with stackable skills, competencies
and credentials
• Uses the strengths of all partners
to create a combined pathway that
is more than the sum of its parts
Career & Technical Education (CTE)
• Mission of CTE
– Was – Entry level employment
– Now – Successful careers & lifelong learning
• New Option
– A.A.S. & B.A.S. degrees for previously
disenfranchised Students
CTE becomes a new
college prep pathway
Opportunity
• Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI)
– 20% of Lehigh County high school students
(3,300) attended in 2010-11
– 1,500 Incumbent workers
• With the new A.A.S. to B.A.S. pathway
– Attract a greater number of high academic achievers
– Promote incumbent worker advancement in
high skill, high wage careers
Two-Year Institution Contribution
• Pennsylvania Community Colleges offer a pipeline
of program candidates
– Over 7,000 students enrolled among 3 community
colleges in Fall 2010-11
• With the new A.A.S. to B.A.S. pathway:
– A.A.S. no longer viewed as a terminal degree
– Community colleges will serve
a linchpin for a seamless
educational pathway
as
9-16
Seamless Career & Technical Pathways
• The most open educational pathway in the
Commonwealth to high priority jobs
• Serving traditional and adult learners plus
incumbent workers
• Providing options for the unemployed and
underemployed
• Multiple program entry and exit points
Focus on Skills Needed in Workforce
• Competency-based education for knowledge and
applied skills
• Recognition of National Skills Standards
• Broad applicability to multiple areas such as
Manufacturing, Information Technology, etc.
The B.A.S. and PASSHE
• Supports PASSHE Transformation 2010
• Innovative Collaborative New Degree Credential

Serving the Needs of Pennsylvania's
Workforce and Employers

Affordable, Flexible Educational Pathways
Programs In Place
Bloomsburg University
• BAS in Technical Leadership
• First BAS program approved by
the PASSHE Board of Governors
• On-site at Lehigh Carbon
Community College
Clarion University
• BAS in Technology Leadership
• Online program
Lehigh Career & Technical Institute
• Excellent
foundation in
technical skills
• College
preparatory
coursework
including dual
enrollment
• Industryrecognized
certifications
and skills
credentialing
Lehigh Carbon Community College
• Advancement of
technical skills
• Completion of
Associate degree in
Applied Science
• Enhanced Industryrecognized
certifications and
skills credentialing
Bloomsburg University
• Completion of general
education college
coursework
• Advanced technical
and professional
competencies
• Pathway to graduatelevel education (MS,
MBA)
PASSHE
• Network of 14
Universities
• Applied Baccalaureate
framework
• Identifying potential
partnerships
• Program facilitation
A Call to Action for CTEs
Add identification of a pathway
from every CTE career cluster to
an Applied Associate degree then
to an Applied Bachelor’s degree
to your strategic plans
Seek Partners
Contact local Community College and/or PASSHE
University(ies)
Also, distance education methodology allows for program
replication that may align well with your CTE pathways
Contact business and industry and workforce
stakeholders for opportunities to meet, discuss,
share ideas, to build a stronger and talented
workforce.
Assemble a Team
Include representatives from:
• All institutions
• Regional Workforce
Investment Board (WIB)
• Regional employer and
professional organizations
• High-impact regional
employers
Resources and Regulations
• Work with all partners to identify grants to fund
program feasibility studies and development
• Determine requirements and impact of possible
state and federal regulations
• Communicate with accreditation agencies
Determine Delivery Options
• On-site model
– Courses at CC and 4-year University campuses
• Co-located model
– University courses co-located at CC campus
• Online model
– University courses provided online – CC courses
could be online or on-site
• Blended model
– Some courses provided online and others on-site
Create a Marketing Plan
Reach out to all stakeholders
• Students and parents at all levels
• Sponsoring districts’ administration,
guidance and faculty
• Regional Workforce Investment
Board (WIB)
• Employer support organizations
• Employers
• General public
We hope you heed our
Call to Action!
Carol Adukaitis, EdD
PA State System of Higher Education
2986 N. Second Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Cadukaitis@passhe.edu