Government Relations
UW System Position on Bills Introduced in the Legislature During the 2009-2010 Session
Pending Legislation
SB 121
Establishing a Career Conversations Program at the UW-Madison Center on Education and Work
Full Description
(Lassa/Berceau) This bill requires the Center on Education and Work (CEW) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Education to establish a “Career Conversations” pilot program for students enrolled in grades 7 to 12. The program engages students in webcam conversations about careers with individuals in this state who have careers in math, science, agricultural education, technology education, or information technology. The program would be housed within WISCareers, a career information website run by the CEW.
The bill requires the center to develop criteria for choosing the classrooms that may participate in the program during a pilot period ending on May 15, 2010.
The bill also requires the center to evaluate the effectiveness of the program during the pilot period in promoting careers the above-mentioned fields. In addition, the center must submit a report on the program to the legislature, the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Workforce Development, and the Department of Commerce.UW System Position
SUPPORT: This legislation advances two important objectives by encouraging middle and high school students to critically examine potential career options and by promoting career fields in high demand in Wisconsin.
This “Career Conversations” pilot is based on a similar program in North Dakota that brings representatives from high-wage/high-demand occupations directly into the classroom via webcam video.
Due to its existing collaborations with employers and schools, along with its technological capabilities, WISCareers has the ability to integrate “Career Conversations” into its current website at minimal cost. However, the bill’s numerous reporting requirements will require the school to incur some additional administrative costs.