Creative Transition Planning

The need for transition planning

Studies show students make up their mind about college around 8th grade

More choices than ever and more confusion than ever

Lack of comprehensive career guidance in high schools

Minimal understanding of career choices and training requirements

Lack of knowledge of options and accommodations available for students with disabilities

Creative Transition Programs “Whose Brain is it Anyway?”

Energetic, humorous improv comedy show Target Audience: 9th Grade Theme: “Get serious, get focused, get moving”

towards postsecondary education and career planning

Involves numerous audience-participation skits that are different each time

(Video clip link)

Creative Transition Programs

“Transitions” One-act play about a middle school age

boy and his crush on a girl Target Audience: 8th Grade Involves humor and typical age-

appropriate situations with which students can relate

Weaves the theme of college planning throughout the play within interactions with an older sister

(video clip link)

Creative Transition Programs

“Better Place to Start” (BPTS) Fast-paced, energetic presentation about

post-secondary education options Target Audience: 11th/12th Grade Emphasizes advantages of community

colleges “Soft-sell” on the name brand Bright, engaging PowerPoint presentation

format typically presented in English classes

Creative Transition Programs

What Will I Do After High School?

Job?

College?

Technical Training?

Military?

What Should I Be Doing Now?

Seek out volunteer opportunities

Career shadow Begin a career portfolio Take a variety of electives Take Dual Enrollment

classes Take Tech Prep courses Take a career exploration

course Research various careers Visit colleges that you are

interested in attending

Services For Students With Disabilities

Reasonable accommodations available for students with appropriate documentation of disability

Office for Students with Disabilities available to help

Creative Transition Programs

“Students in Industry/Career Investigations” Program targets specific career programs Target Audience: High School Students spend half day touring college

programs and half day in real world setting

Creative Transition Programs

“College Night” Large-scale college fair offered by the

community college Universities and colleges from around the

country are invited Held on two nights All high school students and parents are

invited

Creative Transition Programs

“Teach-In” Program designed to get college faculty and

staff into secondary schools Target Audience: All levels of schools College faculty and staff are invited to spend

time this day in a local school teaching or presenting on a topic of interest

Builds relationships with colleges and secondary schools

Creative Transition Programs

“Counselor Day” Luncheon for guidance counselors Target Audience: All high school guidance

counselors Highlights college programs and

admissions procedures/requirements Builds relationships between secondary

and postsecondary institutions

Creative Transition Programs

“Scholarship Presentations” College transition staff present scholarships at

local high school award ceremonies Target Audience: Graduating Seniors Increases communication and relationships

between colleges and high schools

Creative Transition Programs

“Road Rules to Success” Program designed to smooth the transition

from high school to college Target Audience: Recently graduated high

school seniors Half day on-campus orientation in early

summer with various workshops on admissions, financial aid, etc.

Parents are invited

Creative Transition Programs

“Disability Roundtables” Half or full-day roundtable event

highlighting a particular disability Target Audience: Disability

providers/counselors from local colleges and high schools

Addresses new techniques and ways to increase success of targeted populations

Facilitated and presented by the OSD dept.

Creative Transition Programs

How can we do that? Seek buy-in from various college

departments and administrators Start with one program at a time Develop programs that meet specific needs

of your student population Foster and develop a good working

relationship with local schools Hire creative, energetic, innovative thinkers Think outside the box Demonstrate your value with data