Even before he opened the doors to his 8th annual Career Fair on June 10, U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) and his special guest, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-California), greeted a line of eager job seekers that stretched for several blocks outside of the Emerson Performance Center at Harris-Stowe State University in midtown St. Louis. By the end of the event, more than 5,000 guests had come through the doors.
“The incredible community response exceeded my greatest hopes for this year’s Career Fair,” said Clay. “I was especially pleased to see the great attitudes of our job seekers who were ready to make the most of this wonderful opportunity. As the economy continues to recover, unemployment and underemployment remains a huge issue in the First Congressional District, and my Career Fair directly addresses that urgent need.”
Job seekers were able to meet with over 100 top St. Louis employers, including the Boeing Company; Ameren; BJC Healthcare Systems; Alberici Construction: World Wide Technology; Centene; Best Buy; Clear Channel Communications; CBS Radio Group; Emmis Communications; the U.S. Marshal Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Edward Jones; and St. Louis Community Credit Union,.
For the sixth consecutive year, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management joined the Career Fair lineup by providing a one-stop shop for interested job seekers to learn about, and apply for, thousands of federal jobs, worldwide.
Study: no ‘community college penalty’
The Illinois Education Research Council at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville released a study recently showing that there does not appear to be a disadvantage against community college students transferring to 4-year institutions with regards to bachelor’s degree completion.
The study indicated 85 percent of community college transfers earned a bachelor’s degree within five academic years of transitioning to a 4-year institution. Comparatively, rising four-year juniors completed at a rate of 86 percent during the same time period.
“Based on our findings, there is no evidence to support the notion that a significant community college penalty exists,” said Eric Lichtenberger, associate director for research at the IERC and assistant research professor at SIUE. “Community college transfer students were just as likely to complete a bachelor’s degree as 4-year college juniors when matching on key factors.”
Lichtenberger said past studies have garnered mixed results; some indicating a clear community college penalty exists, while others showing no support for the claim.
“We analyzed bachelor’s degree completion after transfer, while simultaneously controlling for student background characteristics, as well as high school and college contexts,” he said. “In other words, community college transfer students were matched to similar rising four-year college juniors from the same high schools who attended similarly selective four-year colleges.”
“After making sure the groups were similar on key characteristics, the difference in the rate of degree completion was non-significant.”
From a policy perspective, the study indicated policy makers should:
- Continue developing baseline information about transfer performance as the state’s longitudinal data system is fully implemented
- Set goals for institutional performance related to community college to 4-year transfer rates
- Help community college transfer students face their financial aid future by developing information and incentives that fully span their undergraduate enrollment from a community college to a 4-year institution.
The study starts with 23,676 Illinois high school graduates from the class of 2003 who went to college and nationally tracks bachelor’s degree completion until the end of 2010.
A complete copy of the report is available at siue.edu/ierc/publications/index.shtml
ex’treme Institute by Nelly adds programs
Vatterott College ex’treme Institute by Nelly (800 North 3rd Street) is increasing its educational offerings to include two new associate degree programs and two new diploma programs. Each of the new programs allows students to receive training via hands-on experience for many entry-level or management positions in music and entertainment. Instructors for the new programs at ex’treme Institute by Nelly are veterans in the music and entertainment industries.
“I think it’s very groundbreaking. I think it’s very innovative” said Nelly about the new programs.
The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Entertainment & Media Business with Management is designed to prepare students to work in an array of positions in the music industry. In 70 weeks, students are taught the skills of persuasive communication, advertising, public relations, management, marketing, management and sales in the entertainment industry.
The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Recording Engineering & Producing with Management program prepares students with technical proficiency to produce sound recordings for film/video, broadcast, live or mixed media production. Also a 70-week program, students receive instruction in sound equipment operation and maintenance, audio editing, audio recording, audio mixing, sound engineering, beat making, record production and management skills.
“We are an unorthodox institution of learning in being we deal with creativity, we deal with expression, we deal with your inner feelings, and trying to bring that to fruition,” Nelly said.
For those looking for a diploma certificate, ex’treme Institute by Nelly is offering two newly added 50-week programs are available in Entertainment & Media Business and Recording Engineering & Producing. Students in the Entertainment & Media Business diploma program receive training in advertising, public relations, management, marketing and sales within the entertainment industry. The Recording Engineering & Producing program educates students with technical expertise to produce sound recordings for film/video, broadcast, live or mixed media.
“We’re not walking around in suits and uniforms around here because it’s creativity,” Nelly said. “I encourage coming in as you feel.”
Visit www.eibynelly.com or call 314-657-4400 for more information about classes, schedules and enrollment.
