Corporate Collegiate Partnerships

Abstract

n the fall of 1990, when "EX and SUNY Empire State College began to create a corporate collegiate partnership, the idea was to design a program to address the work force issues facing many American corporations. Increasingly, high school and even college graduates do not evidence skills adequate for the competitive service-oriented marketplace.This program is the only pmgram of its type in the counby We are located onsite in N"EX facilities addressing the educational needs of NYNEX' s customer service representative. The goal of the program is to retain and prepare a competent, educated work force that can adapt to a multicultural, technologically sophisticated and rapidly evolving workplace through a liberal arts education. What Empire State College offers to NYNEX (one of the seven regional Bell operating companies) is a unique appreciation of experiential learning, flexibility in response to student needs, and a commitment to expanding the frontiers of educational technology. The relationship and partnership of "EX and Empire State College is critical to the success of the program. Empire State College, which is the non-traditional unit of the State University of New York, is grounded on the c o n q t that effective learning is based on purposes and needs that are important to the individual, that learning occurs in varied places and that people learn in Merent ways. Empire State College has over forty locations throughout New York State, with its Coordinating Center located in Saratoga Springs. The Coporate/ WE. M&n k,+bt?sta$ a?rK+fqmmLlnpora# & h e hgram. Miller k um&% &n,College Program utilizes SUNY Empire State College' s widely known individualized model of instruction. The program offers its candidates an entry-level position as a MYEX customer service representative and the opportunity to earn a fully-paid-for associate or bachelor's degree. Since the program began four years ago, four students have graduated and another ten are expeded to graduate in October. The preponderance of students ape recent high school graduates who were recruited from area high schools. This represents another partnership that of working with the high schools' guidance counselors to iden@ those students who would be successful in and benefit from the program. Progam eligibility is ultimately determined by a candidate's ability to pass the battely of tests required for employment as a "EX customer service representative. They are part-time, cornmuting students. The student population of over 200 students consists of over 90 percent under-represented groups, including African Americans, Latinos, and kian-Americans. About half of the students in the program are twenty-five years of age or older. There is also a group of students in the program who were already customer service representatiw, Once accepted into the program, students are full-time NYNEX employees who pursue their studies with Empire State College and therefore must balance a full-time stressful job with studies. tor acts as the instructor, academic advisor, coun...