Labour Market Relevance and Outcomes of Higher Education in Four US States

Annex A. Fact-finding visits to Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Washington, DC

This review was based upon desk-based research and fact-finding visits to the jurisdictions involved in the review. During fact-finding visits, OECD staff conducted interviews and workshops with public officials; higher education leaders and staff; and key stakeholders, including employers, professional associations, economic development organisations and other intermediary bodies.

Between April and October 2019, the OECD team visited the four participating states holding interviews with key officials and stakeholders, as well as a stakeholder workshop in each state. Based upon guidance from the OECD team, each state co-ordinator identified and invited a range of stakeholder organisations to the interviews and workshop held in the state.

Table A.1. Principal state co-ordinators and representatives of state higher education agencies

Ohio	Texas	Virginia	Washington
Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE)	Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)	State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)	Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)
Cheryl Rice Vice Chancellor, Higher Education Workforce Alignment	David Gardner Deputy Commissioner/Chief Academic Officer Ginger L. Gossman Senior Director, Innovation and Policy Development Jenna Cullinane Hege Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Planning	Peter A. Blake Director Alan Edwards Director of Policy Studies	Michael P. Meotti Executive Director Isaac Kwakye Director of Research Daryl Monear Associate Director

Organisations participating in OECD interviews and workshops

Ohio

The fact-finding visit to Ohio was conducted from 30 September to 8 October, 2019. Interviews took place in Athens, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Columbus and Elyria from 30 September to 7 October, and the workshop was held in Columbus on 8 October.

Table A.2. Organisations participating in OECD interviews and workshop in Ohio

AICUO (Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio)

APEG (Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth)

Art Academy of Cincinnati

Ashland University

Aultman College

Bluffton University

Bowling Green State University

Buckeye Hills Regional Council

Capital University

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Clark State Community College

Cleveland State University

Columbus College of Art & Design

Columbus State Community College

Cuyahoga Community College/Tri-C

Defiance College

Denison University

Franklin University

Governor's Office

Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation

Governor's Office of Appalachia

Higher Learning Commission

Hiram College

Hocking College

InnovateOhio

IUC (Inter-University Council of Ohio)

Lake Erie College

Lakeland CC

Lorain CCC

Lourdes University

Mercy College

Miami Regional University

Muskingum University

NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business)

Northwest State

OACC (Ohio Association of Community Colleges)

Ohio Business Roundtable

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Ohio Christian University

Ohio Council of Retail Merchants

Ohio Department of Education

Ohio Department of Higher Education

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Ohio Education Research Center

Ohio Farm Bureau

Ohio House of Representatives

Ohio Manufacturers Association

Ohio Mid-Eastern Government Association (Omega District)

Ohio Senate

Ohio State University

Ohio University

Ohio Wesleyan University

Otterbein University

Owens Community College

P20 Council

Shawnee State University

Sinclair Community College

Southern State Community College

Stark State College

Terra State Community College

Tiffin University

University of Akron

University of Cincinnati Blue Ash Campus

University of Findlay

University of Toledo

Ursuline College

Washington State Community College

Texas

The fact-finding visit to Texas took place from 16-24 September, 2019. Interviews were conducted in Austin, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and El Paso from 16-23 September, and the workshop was held in Austin on 24 September.

Table A.3. Organisations participating in OECD interviews and workshop in Texas

Accenture

Amazon

Apple

Austin Community College

BBVA Compass America

Biehl International

Borderplex Alliance

CEA Group

Certain Affinity

City of Austin

Civitas Learning

Collin County Community College District

Communities Foundation of Texas

Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors

Dallas Chamber of Commerce

Dallas County Community College District

Dallas County Promise

Dell

DFW Regional Workforce Leadership Council

Doctors Hospital at Renaissance

Dow Chemical

EcoTourism, Alamo Economic Development Board

Educate TX

El Paso Community College

El Paso Community Foundation

El Paso Electric Company

Enterprise Rental Car

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Fluor Corporation

Fort Bliss Military Base

Greater Houston Partnership

Greater Texas Foundation

Hidalgo County

House Higher Education Committee

Hunt Companies

IBM

Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas

JP Morgan Chase

La Unión Del Pueblo Entero

Lamar University

LBJ School of Public Affairs

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company

Lone Star College

Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council

McAllen Economic Development Corporation

Mission Economic Development Corporation

National Oilwell Varco

Navarro College

North Central Texas College

North Texas Community College Consortium

Office of the Governor of Texas

Project Arriba

RGV Focus

RGV Partnership

S&B Engineers and Constructors

Sam Houston State University

Senate Higher Education Committee

Shell Companies

South Texas College

Southern Methodist University

Starr County Industrial Foundation

Tarleton State University

Tarrant County College

Tenet Healthcare

Texas 2036

Texas A&M System

Texas A&M University

Texas Association of Community Colleges

Texas Association of Manufacturers

Texas Business Leadership Council

Texas Department of Transportation

Texas Education Agency

Texas Instruments

Texas Lutheran University

Texas Restaurant Association

Texas State Technical Colleges

Texas Southmost College

Texas State Technical College

Texas State Technical College, Harlingen

Texas State Technical College, North Texas

Texas State Technical College System

Texas Tech University Health Science Center

Texas Wesleyan University

Texas Women's University

Texas Workforce Commission

Texas Workforce Investment Council

T-Mobile Call Center

Trellis Company

United Way of Greater Houston

United Ways of Texas

United Way of South Texas

United Way of Southern Cameron County

University of Houston

University of Texas at Arlington

University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at El Paso

University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, School of Engineering

University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, School of Medicine

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

U.S. Department of Labor, Dallas Regional Office

UT System

Valley Baptist Medical Center

Wal-Mart

Wayland Baptist University

WestStar Bank

Workforce Solutions Borderplex

Workforce Solutions Cameron

Workforce Solutions Houston-Galveston

Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley

Virginia

The fact-finding visit to Virginia took place from 13-22 May, 2019. Interviews were conducted in Fairfax, Richmond, Norfolk, Staunton and Roanoke from 13-21 May, and the workshop was held in Richmond on 22 May.

Table A.4. Organisations participating in OECD interviews and workshop in Virginia

Amazon Web Services

Blue Ridge Community College

Cameron Foundation of Petersburg

Community College Workforce Alliance

Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia

ECPI University

Ferrum College

George Mason University

Growth and Opportunity for Virginia

Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance

Hampton Roads Workforce Council

Harvest Foundation

House Appropriations Committee

James Madison University

John Tyler Community College

Liberty University

Mary Baldwin University

McGuireWoods Consulting

Micron Technologies

MITRE Corporation

Newport News Shipbuilding

Norfolk State University

Northern Virginia Community College

Northern Virginia Technology Council

NoVa Workforce Research Center

Office of the Governor of Virginia

Old Dominion University

Radford University

Reynolds Community College

Roanoke College

Roanoke Regional Partnership

Senate Finance Committee

SCHEV Council Members

Shenandoah University

Shenandoah Valley Partnership

State Board for Community Colleges

Tidewater Community College

Tidewater Consortium for Higher Education

University of Richmond

University of Virginia

University of Virginia, College at Wise

University-based Economic Developers

Valleys Innovation Council

Virginia Board of Workforce Development

Virginia Business-Higher Education Council

Virginia Career Works Piedmont Region

Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Virginia Chief Workforce Development Advisor

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Community College System

Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade

Virginia Deputy Secretary of Education

Virginia Director of Planning and Budget

Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Virginia Employment Commission

Virginia House Appropriations Committee

Virginia House Education Committee

Virginia Secretary of Education

Virginia Secretary of Finance

Virginia Senate Finance Committee

Virginia Small Business Association

Virginia State University

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Virginia Wesleyan University

Washington

The fact-finding visit to Washington was conducted from 29 April to 7 May, 2019. Interviews took place in Olympia, Seattle, Spokane and Yakima from 29 April to 6 May, and the workshop was held in Seattle on 7 May.

Table A.5. Organisations participating in OECD interviews and workshop in Washington

Association of Washington Business

Career Connect Washington

Council of Presidents

Eastern Washington University

Evergreen State College

Greater Seattle Partners

Heritage University

House College and Workforce Development Committee

Independent Colleges of Washington

Kaiser Permanente

Microsoft

Northwest Career Colleges Federation

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Office of the Governor of Washington

Olympic Consortium Workforce Development Council

Pacific Northwest University

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Seattle University

Senate Democratic Caucus

Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee

Society of Professional Engineers in Aerospace

South Central Workforce Council

South Puget Sound Community College

Spokane Community College

Spokane STEM Network

Spokane Workforce Council

State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

STEM Education Innovation Alliance

University of Washington

Washington Department of Labor and Industries

Washington Economic Development Association

Washington Education and Research Data Center

Washington Employment Security Department

Washington Roundtable

Washington State Labor Council

Washington State Opportunity Scholarship

Washington State University, Health Sciences

Washington STEM

Washington Technology Industry Association

Western Washington University

Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County

Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

Yakima County Development Association

Yakima Valley College

Washington, DC

The fact-finding visit to Washington, DC took place on 9-10 May, 2019.

Table A.6. Organisations participating in OECD interviews in Washington, DC

American Enterprise Institute

Center for American Progress

Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce

Jobs for the Future

National Skills Coalition

New America

The Century Foundation

The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS)

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education

Pre-workshop stakeholder surveys

Stakeholders attending the workshops in each state were invited to respond to a short survey in advance of the workshop. Participants were asked about their views on how graduates are doing in the labour market, whether they have the skills required to meet labour market needs, and what policy makers and other stakeholders could do to improve the alignment of higher education and the labour market.

The survey included 19 questions on the following topics:

• general perception of the value of higher education;

• perception of skills needed in the labour market at present and in future;

• perception of graduates’ skills;

• drivers of graduates’ employment and earnings;

• the role of government, institutions, employers and other stakeholders in aligning higher education and the labour market.

The objective of the survey was to encourage workshop participants to reflect on some of the key issues being examined in the OECD review of labour market relevance and outcomes in higher education. Some key findings from the survey were presented during the workshops. The survey was not a statistical data collection.

A sample of questions and key findings for each of the main topics is presented below.

Perception of skills needed in the labour market at present and in future

Sample question: To what extent do you think these skills will change in importance to employers over the next 5-10 years? Please rate each skill according to how much you think it will change in importance to employers in the next 5-10 years.

 

	1 Decrease in importance	2 Decrease slightly in importance	3 Stay the same as now	4 Increase slightly in importance	5 Increase considerably in importance	Don’t know
Subject matter knowledge
General computer literacy
Advanced computer skills
Critical thinking (e.g. the process of conceptualizing, analyzing, and/or synthesizing information)
Complex problem-solving
Written and oral communication
Professional and personal integrity (e.g. abiding by ethical standards and norms of privacy, honesty and respect)
Leadership/management
Entrepreneurship
Cooperation and teamwork
Self-motivation and initiative
Active listening, empathy and other interpersonal skills
Resilience (e.g. adaptability; capacity to recover quickly from difficulties )
Conscientiousness (e.g. attention to detail, self-discipline and timeliness, persistence)
Creativity and innovative thinking
Numeracy and quantitative reasoning

Results (N=100)

 

Perception of graduates’ skills

Sample question: Please read the following statements and indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree.

 

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Recent graduates generally have good subject matter knowledge (e.g. knowledge of accounting, economics, biology, anthropology, etc.)
Recent graduates generally have good cognitive skills (e.g. critical thinking, problem-solving, oral and written communication, numeracy skills)
Recent graduates generally have good social and emotional skills (e.g. conscientiousness, resilience, cooperation, active listening, empathy)

Results (N=100)

 

Drivers of graduates’ employment and earnings

Sample question: Multiple factors influence graduate success in the labor market. Please rate the following factors in terms of how important you think they are for predicting success in the labor market (approx. 5 years after graduation). N= 98

 

	1 Not important	2	3	4	5 Very important
The kind of higher education graduates have obtained (e.g. level, institution, field of study)
Skill- or competency-based certificates or supplementary credentials
Work experience (e.g. internships, capstone projects and other work-based and experiential learning)
Other student characteristics (e.g. socio-economic background, abilities, extracurricular activities)
The local and regional economic context (e.g. economic structure and performance, industry composition)
Wider global trends affecting regional and local labor market (e.g. technological change, international trade patterns)
State policy in higher education
State policy in other domains (e.g. employment, tax)
Federal policies (in any area)
Actions taken by non-governmental coordinating bodies
Other: (please specify___________)

Results (N=98)

 

The role of government, institutions, employers and other stakeholders in aligning higher education and the labour market

Sample question: Please rate the following types of policy action (which could be taken by public authorities or non-governmental bodies in cooperation with government) in terms of how effective you think they would be in improving the alignment between higher education and the labor market.

 

	1 Not at all effective	2	3	4	5 Very effective
Strategic planning and forecast mechanisms to help higher education providers to strategically plan the programs offered and ensure that these respond to labor market needs – both current and projected.
Policies promoting the quality and diversity of higher education provision, including content and delivery of particular programs and curricula.
Policies to develop pathways into and between programs and institutions to accommodate learners at different stages of their working lives.
Academic staff policies that encourage faculty to cultivate labor market-relevant skills in their students.
Policies to provide financial support to students to help them develop labor-market relevant skills and complete a credential.
Policies to provide non-financial support to students (e.g. academic, career counselling) to help them develop labor-market relevant skills and complete a credential.
Policies to promote the provision of information and guidance for students and graduates about their choice of institution, field of study and occupation
Quality assurance and accreditation processes that contribute to good quality educational credentials that are trusted by employers
Public funding to higher education institutions that takes into account the (current and projected) career prospects of graduates to encourage the provision of labor market-relevant higher education
Signalling mechanisms to help employers understand the skills that graduates from different programs should possess and to help graduates convey the skills they have obtained in higher education

Results (N=98)

 

Sample question: Please read the following statements and indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree.

 

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
The state government should take on a larger role in influencing the behavior of higher education institutions.
Employers should take on a larger role in engaging with higher education institutions and communicating skills needs.
Professional or industry associations should take on a larger role in engaging with higher education institutions and communicating skills needs.
Higher education institutions should increase their efforts to ensure that program and curriculum design are better aligned with the needs of the labor market.

Results (N=99)