Workforce Development

Program Director,Davis Jenkins

The Great Cities Workforce Development program seeks to advance understanding to increase access to economic opportunity by disadvantaged youths and adults. A key focus of this work is the role of public post-secondary institutions, particularly community colleges, in educating economically educationally disadvantaged individuals for gainful employment in a knowledge economy.

Current Projects

Study of Access and Attainment by Minority and Low-Income Students at Community Colleges,

Funders:   Ford Foundation
                   Lumina Foundation for Education

Partners:   Community College Research Center,
                   Teachers College,Columbia University

Summary: Grassroots effort to encourage Illinois community colleges, in partnership with high schools, universities, and workforce and economic development agencies, to rethink their programs and services in ways that support educational and economic advancement by all of their students, particularly those from underserved groups. GCI is providing research support to the initiative and helping develop a technical assistance guide for colleges and others interested in building career pathways in their regions.

Evaluation of Illinois Bridge Pilot Training Programs

Funder:    The Joyce Foundation

Partners:	City Colleges of Chicago
	Chicago Housing Authority
	Chicago Mayor's Office for Workforce Development
	Illinois Community College Board
	Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
	Illinois Department of Employment Security
	Women Employed Institute

Summary: UIC will conduct formative and summative evaluations of bridge training programs currently being piloted throughout the Illinois. Bridge programs are designed to prepare adults who want to advance but lack the basic skills needed to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and training and career-path employment.

Recent Publications

Prince, D. & Jenkins, D. 2005. Building Pathways to Success for Low-Skill Adult Students: Lessons for Community College Policy and Practice from a Statewide Longitudinal Tracking Study. New York: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. (April).

Bailey, T. Calcagno, J.C., Jenkins, D., Kienzl, G, & Leinbach, T. 2005. The Effects of Institutional Factors on the Success of Community College Students. New York: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. (January).

Bailey, T., Jenkins, D. & Leinbach, T. What We Know About Community College Low-Income and Minority Student Outcomes: Descriptive Statistics from National Surveys. New York: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. (January).

Bailey, T., Alfonso, M., Calcagno, J.C., Jenkins, D., Kienzl, G. & Leinbach, T. 2004. Improving Student Attainment in Community Colleges: Institutional Characteristics and Policies. New York: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. (November).

Bailey, T., Calcagno, J.C., Jenkins, D., & Kienzl, G. Benchmarking Community College Performance Using Adjusted Institutional Graduation Rates. New York: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. (July).

Jenkins, D. & Sommers, S. 2004. A Bridge to Community College Career Programs for Adults with Poor Basic Skills. Chicago: Great Cities Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago. (April).

Jenkins, D. 2004. A Bridge Program Planning Guide. Chicago: Women Employed Institute. (April).

Jenkins, D. 2003. Rethinking How We Prepare Minority Youth for Success in College and Careers. Chicago: Great Cities Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago. (October).

Jenkins, D: 2003. Career Pathway Primer and Planning Guide. Chicago: Great Cities Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago. (October).

Jenkins, D. 2003. Illinois’ Impending Workforce Crisis: A Strategic Response. Background paper for the Illinois Career Pathways Initiative. Chicago: Women Employed. (July).

Bailey, T., Jacobs, J. Jenkins, D. & Leinbach, T. 2003. Community Colleges and the Equity Agenda: What the Record Shows. Paper prepared for the AACC National Conference, April 6-8, 2003, Dallas, Texas. New York: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. (April.)

Jenkins, D. 2003. The Potential of Community Colleges as Bridges to Opportunity: Can It Be Achieved at Scale? Paper presented to the Community College Research Center, Seminar on Equity and Access, March 26, 2003, Columbia University, New York City. New York: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. (March).

Jenkins, D., Bush, S, Henle, T., Cohen, S. & Kossy, J. 2002. Recruiting Lower-Income Women into Information Technology Careers: Building a Foundation for Action. Chicago, IL: Women Employed Institute. (November.)

Jenkins, D., and Boswell, K. 2002. State Policies on Community College Remedial Education: Findings from a National Survey. Denver, CO: Center for Community College Policy, Education Commission of the States. (September).

Alssid, J., Gruber, D., Jenkins, D., Mazzeo, C. and Roberts, B. 2002. Building a Career Pathways System: Promising Practices in Community College-Centered Workforce Development. New York and San Francisco: Workforce Strategy Center. (August).

Jenkins, D. 2001. Chicagoland TechPaths: Building Pathways to Technology Careers.Report of the joint working group of the Mayor’s Council of Technology Advisors and the Chicago Workforce Board’s Employer Demand Committee. (November).

Jenkins, D. and Kossy, J. 2001. Building a World-Class Information Technology Workforce for the Chicago Region: A Framework for Action. Chicago: Council for Adult and Experiential Learning.

Jenkins, D. 1999. “A Strategy for Attaining the New Job Corps Performance Standards.” Paper presented to the Job Corps Region V Annual Leadership Conference, Chicago. (August).

Jenkins, D. 1999. “Beyond Welfare-to-Work: Bridging the Low-Wage – Livable Wage Employment Gap.” Chicago: Great Cities Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago. (January).

Workforce Development Partnership Papers (archives 1999-2001)