Presentation Downloads

Opening Session: The Value of Higher Education—And How to Further Strengthen It

This session examined the most recent research on the economic returns to a variety of pathways through college—including differences between programs, degree types, and transfer choices—and discussed ongoing work to strengthen high-return pathways for students.

Participants

Thomas Brock, Commissioner, National Center for Education Research

Jamienne Studley, Deputy Under Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education

Eva Sage-Gavin, Vice Chair, Skills for America’s Future Advisory Board

Thomas Bailey, Director, CAPSEE & Community College Research Center

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1A: Strengthening Short-Term Credential Pathways

This session focused on evidence on the economic returns to short- and long-term certificates, how certificate programs can be more strongly connected to labor market opportunities, and implications for public policy.

Participants

Madeline Joy Trimble, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Robert G. Templin, Jr., Northern Virginia Community College

Robert “Butch” Grove, Wake Technical Community College

Cheryl L. Hyman, City Colleges of Chicago

James Jacobs, Macomb Community College (discussant)

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1B: Strengthening Transfer Pathways

Panelists discussed how colleges can improve successful transfer between the two- and four-year sectors, and in particular how they can create transfer pathways that meet labor market opportunities and needs.

Participants

Davis Jenkins, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Maria Hesse, Arizona State University

Peter R. Jones, Temple University

David A. Longanecker, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (discussant)

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1C: Labor Market Outcomes for Postsecondary Credentials and Pathways—Session I

CAPSEE researchers presented findings from several states on labor market outcomes for various postsecondary pathways and programs of study. Presenters also discussed methodological and data-gathering challenges to consider when pursuing this line of research.

Participants

Harry Holzer, Georgetown University

Ben Backes, American Institutes for Research

Susan Dynarski, University of Michigan and CAPSEE

Di Xu, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Nate Johnson, Postsecondary Analytics (discussant)

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1D: Labor Market Outcomes for Postsecondary Credentials and Pathways—Session II

CAPSEE researchers presented findings from several states on labor market outcomes for various postsecondary pathways and programs of study. Presenters also discussed methodological and data-gathering challenges to consider when pursuing this line of research.

Participants

Michal Kurlaender, University of California, Davis, and CAPSEE

Michel Grosz, University of California, Davis

Vivian Yuen Ting Liu, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Clive Belfield, Queens College, City University of New York, and CAPSEE

Thomas Bailey, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE (discussant)

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Plenary Session: College Accountability for Labor Market Outcomes

Speakers addressed issues pertaining to performance funding systems that use, or plan to use, labor market outcomes as a measure of performance.

Participants

Kevin Carey, New America Foundation

Michael L. Reeser, Texas State Technical College System

Mark S. Schneider, American Institutes for Research

David Deming, Harvard University and CAPSEE

Judith Scott-Clayton, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE (discussant)

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2A: Helping Students Make Program and Career Choices

In this session, panelists discussed programs and systems that use labor market outcome data to help students make better choices regarding the programs and careers they pursue.

Participants

Patrick Perry, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office

Brian Jacob, University of Michigan and CAPSEE

Michelle Van Noy, Rutgers University, Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, and CAPSEE

Alex Ruder, Rutgers University, Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

Melinda Mechur Karp, Community College Research Center (discussant)

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2B: Performance Funding

Panelists discussed how accountability systems that take into account labor market outcomes might work to improve college performance, and how policy might be crafted to avoid obstacles and unintended consequences.

Participants

Kevin J. Dougherty, Community College Research Center

Michael L. Reeser, Texas State Technical College System

Joshua Wyner, Aspen Institute College Excellence Program

Iris Palmer, National Governors Association

Travis Reindl, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (discussant)

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2C: Technical Challenges in Calculating Labor Market Returns for Accountability Purposes

In this session, panelists discussed practical and methodological issues that complicate efforts to calculate labor market outcomes for various postsecondary credentials.

Participants

Susan Dynarski, University of Michigan and CAPSEE

Arne Kalleberg, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill and CAPSEE

Michael Dunn, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill

Clive Belfield, Queens College, City University of New York, and CAPSEE

Sandy Baum, The Urban Institute & George Washington University (discussant)

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2D: For-Profit Institutions

Panelists discussed findings on labor market outcomes for credentials awarded by for-profit colleges and the implications for policy and practice.

Participants

David Deming, Harvard University and CAPSEE

Vivian Yuen Ting Liu, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Carolin Hagelskamp, Public Agenda

Andrew Kelly, American Enterprise Institute (discussant)

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Plenary Session: Affordability: Balancing College, Employment, and Finances

This session examined whether students can afford to make a short-term investment in a college education in order to obtain a long-term labor market payoff. How do students currently attempt to balance these considerations, and how do their choices impact their college completion and labor market earnings? What role can policy play in making it easier for students to afford college?

Participants

Sandy Baum, The Urban Institute

Judith Scott-Clayton, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Karen A. Stout, Montgomery County Community College

Richard D. Kahlenberg, The Century Foundation

Brian Jacob, University of Michigan and CAPSEE (discussant)

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3A: Balancing School and Work Through Online Learning

This session explored online education as an approach used by college students to reduce costs and increase flexibility. Panelists presented research on the impacts of this choice on college success and future earnings and discussed its implications in terms of practice and policy.

Participants

Di Xu, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Carolin Hagelskamp, Public Agenda

Julian L. Alssid, College for America at Southern New Hampshire University

Richard Kahlenberg, The Century Foundation (discussant)

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3B: Student Aid and Student Debt at Community Colleges

Panelists presented research on the relationship between financial aid and student outcomes at community colleges, and discussed implications for policy and practice.

Participants

Judith Scott-Clayton, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Mark Wiederspan, University of Michigan

Lauren Schudde, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Lesley J. Turner, University of Maryland (discussant)

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3C: Working While Enrolled

Panelists discussed how student employment impacts enrollment, performance, and labor market outcomes and presented research on the effects of the Federal Work-Study Program.

Participants

Toby Park, Florida State University

Veronica Minaya, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE

Adela Soliz, Harvard University

Karen A. Stout, Montgomery County Community College (discussant)

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3D: Labor Market Data Access and Linking

This session addressed the following questions: What important research questions can we currently not address due to problems with labor market data access and linking, and what barriers stand in the way of getting and using these data effectively? What are examples of institutions that have successfully navigated these barriers, and how are they using the data they have obtained?

Participants

Colin Chellman, City University of New York

Joshua Hawley, The Ohio State University

Christina Whitfield, Kentucky Community and Technical College System

Patrick Kelly, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (discussant)

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Plenary Session: The Nexus of Research and Policy

In this session, panelists discussed barriers to conducting research on postsecondary labor market outcomes in ways that can inform policymaking, including how research findings can be translated into effective policy.

Participants

Anthony P. Carnevale, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce

Jack Buckley, College Board

David A. Longanecker, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Nate Johnson, Postsecondary Analytics

Thomas Bailey, Community College Research Center and CAPSEE (discussant)

Downloads

None available.