O*NET-SOC Taxonomy Report for 2009 Now Available; Total of 153 Additional New and Emerging Occupations Identified within 117 Industry Clusters
The newly released Occupational Information Network (O*NET)-Standard Occupational Classification 2009 taxonomy contains 965 O*NET data-level occupations. The improved taxonomy includes 153 additional New and Emerging O*NET-SOC occupations identified within 17 in-demand industry clusters. A report summarizing the update and implementation is available from the O*NET Resource Center.

Click here for the 2009 taxonomy report.

O*NET 14.0 development database

Transformation of Community Colleges to Accelerate Postsecondary Success for Low-Income Young Adults; Gates Foundation Grant Supports Research for Initiative
The Community College Research Center (CCRC), Teachers College, Columbia University, today (June 30) announced a three-year $5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to carry out research to help identify the most productive investments in community colleges for the foundation's Postsecondary Success (PS) initiative. Because of their open-access admission policies and relatively low tuition rates, community colleges enroll a high proportion of young adults from low-income families. The goal of the PS initiative, launched last year, is to double the number of low-income students who by age 26 earn a postsecondary degree or credential.

Led by director Thomas Bailey, CCRC will produce a set of concrete recommendations for the PS initiative by early 2012. These recommendations will be based on a synthesis of knowledge gained from past research, from ongoing studies by other organizations, and from a new set of CCRC studies chosen to fill gaps in what is known about strategies for increasing community college student success.

The ambitious goal of the PS initiative recognizes the value of a college education in reducing inequities in American society. Earning a college credential is indeed key to gaining entrance to career-path employment for young adults from disadvantaged populations. In announcing the initiative, Hilary Pennington, director of education, postsecondary success, at the Gates Foundation, voiced a concern that has long motivated CCRC researchers: "College enrollment rates have grown rapidly over the past forty years, but completion rates haven't kept pace. Getting students to college isn't enough-we must help them get through college."

The new studies -- each conducted using a mixed-method approach involving both quantitative and qualitative components -- will examine seven strategies that are based on promising but largely untested ideas about what works to increase community college completion rates for low-income young adults: (1) assessing incoming students' needs, not just their level of academic skills (this is sometimes called "actionable assessment"); (2) providing highly structured and focused programs; (3) offering high-quality and engaging online courses; (4) accelerating the pace of remedial instruction and thereby reducing the time needed to complete that instruction; (5) contextualizing basic skills instruction in the teaching of academic or occupational content; (6) providing underprepared students with "student success" courses and other non-academic supports; and (7) aligning programs and services to support student progression and success.

CCRC will examine these strategies in terms of their impact on student success, their cost-effectiveness, and their feasibility. The research team will also identify program characteristics and organizational practices that support effective implementation of each strategy on a large scale.

For more information about the multi-study research project, please visit: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/Collection.asp?cid=65

HUD Announces Three NOFAs to Support Minority-Serving Institutions; Economic Development and Job Training among Allowable Activities
The Department of Health and Human Services has announced the availability of three Notices of Fund Availability.

NOFA: FY 2009 Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Availability: $9,000,000

Allowable Activities: Expansion of their role in addressing community development needs in their localities, including neighborhood revitalization, housing, and economic development, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income.

NOFA: FY 2009 Tribal Colleges and Universities Program

Availability: $5,000,000

Allowable Activities: Expansion of the role of the TCUs into the community through the provision of needed services such as health programs, job training, and economic development activities.

NOFA: FY 2009 Alaska/Native Hawaiian Institutions

Availability: $3,000,000

Allowable Activities: Expansion of the their role and effectiveness in addressing community development needs their localities, including neighborhood revitalization, housing, and economic development, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income.

Click here for the respective application processes, funding criteria and eligibility requirements.

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