To enhance the education of kindergarten through 12th grade students, to include higher education and young adults, by encouraging chapter members to contribute their time and resources to local and state educational activities in cooperation and collaboration with schools, business and industry, government, and community groups.

The major goal of this effort is to help educators, parents and students understand how changes, such as technology, global competition and global information transmission, have impacted and transformed the workplace, placing new demands on workers' knowledge, skills and abilities.

The Workforce Readiness Committee encourages chapter members to become active "partners" in the school reform movement, providing encouragement to:

connect students, educators and schools to the world of work incorporate techology and global economy information into schools' curriculum support educators' professional development become involved in school reform within their school districts plan and implement partnership efforts through their businesses join collaborative efforts with education, business, government, community agencies serve as a catalyst within the community to form a collaboration where none exist

Four general levels of involvement are suggested to accomplish these objectives:

HELPING HANDS RELATIONSHIPS in which an individual organization is paired with a school, school district, class or grade level (tutors, mentors, or speakers) PROGRAMMATIC INITIATIVES in which an organization cooperates with school partners to develop/adapt local, state and national programs that target specific curriculum and/or teacher and student needs (parent involvement) ALLIANCES/COMPACTS in which business, government, education and community groups cooperate or collaborate through broad-based local, state and national alliances (Ohio Workforce Readiness Alliance) POLICY CHANGES in which business leaders, educators and community groups collaborate to reduce bureaucracy and advocate policy changes at the legislative level

CAN YOU PROVIDE A JOB SHADOW?

In the summer of 1998, the MVHRA's Workforce Readiness Committee conducted a pilot HR Job Shadow project in which 11 college and university human resource students from Miami-Jacobs College, Wright State University, Central Michigan branch and Park College branch spent 3 - 8 hours with an HR professional MVHRA member at their worksite. Both students as well as the professional HR volunteers reported enthusiasm for the program and interest in continuing it.

If are interested in providing a job shadow for a college or university HR student this fall, please contact:

Workforce Readiness Chair

For more information on the MVHRA Student Chapter, contact: Workforce Readiness Chair. This chair position is currently open, for more information please contact Virgil F. McDaniel, PHR at vfmcdaniel@egreeninc.com

Additional Workforce Readiness Sites On the Internet:

National Employer Leadership Council

For more information on the Workforce Readiness Committee, contact the Committee Chairperson:

Workforce Readiness Chair

For more information on the MVHRA Student Chapter, contact: Workforce Readiness Chair. This chair position is currently open, for more information please contact Virgil F. McDaniel, PHR at vfmcdaniel@egreeninc.com