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BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – March/April 2015
WORK ETHIC
SIGNAL
Schools, Businesses Create PRIDE Indicator
The skills gap, the difference between what employers need from an
employee and the abilities the workers have to offer, is multi-faceted.
Not only is there often a lack of abilities in hard skills (computer
programming, mathematics and more), but also soft skills such as
communication, working in teams and strong personal character.
Of the more than 530 Indiana companies responding to the 2014 Indiana Chamber
Employer Survey, over 54% stated that a lack of work ethic is the most pressing issue in their
hiring process, followed by communication and attendance.
“Employers are teaming with schools to better relate academic concepts to workforce
needs,” says Amy Marsh, Indiana Chamber director of college and career readiness. “Businesses
are looking for employees that are ready to work on day one.”
According to the survey, more than 39% of businesses had vacancies related to
underqualified applicants. To make matters more difficult for employers, more than half of
businesses indicated plans to expand their workforce in the next year.
“This is not a sustainable model for moving Indiana forward,” Marsh states. “Ultimately,
we want workers across the employment spectrum to be able to have a long, sustainable career
that contributes to the strength of the Indiana labor force.”
Team effort
Stakeholders in Southeast Indiana believe they have a partial solution.
The program, called PRIDE, is a pilot established by Greater Clark County Schools
(GCCS), the Region 10 Works Council and an advisory board of 70 local community leaders
from postsecondary education, workforce entities and local government. PRIDE stands for
By Cory Ahlersmeyer
persistence, respectfulness, initiative,
dependability and efficiency. Each trait was
outlined by the board as desirable qualities for
graduating GCCS students.
Students are required to demonstrate
these character qualities throughout their
senior year. Measurements take place through
criteria such as attendance, grade point
average and recommendations by teachers
and community members.
The program is backed by GCCS teachers
and staff, says superintendent Andrew Melin,
Ph.D. He notes that local business owners
can be assured that students earning the
certificate are strong representatives of both
the school and community.
“We want to produce kids of great
character who also possess the hard skills
necessary to be successful,” Melin explains.
Students that receive the certificate earn
much more than a piece of paper. Ivy Tech is
weighing the possibility of waiving select
first-year courses for PRIDE recipients.
But that isn’t all, Melin says.
“You have employers that will guarantee
an interview if there is an opening,” he says.
“Others will start them at a higher rate of pay.”
Business participation
Motivation to implement the program
came from an industry forum hosted by the
Region 10 Works Council in January 2014.
Industries – including automotive
manufacturing, business services and
construction – overwhelmingly expressed
concerns with work ethic-related issues.
The council, combined with Melin’s
board of community leaders, developed strong
buy-in from local businesses to develop a
solution.
“Dr. Melin had an extremely successful
implementation of this program when he was
at East Allen County Schools,” offers Paul
Perkins, president of Amatrol in Jeffersonville
and chair of the Region 10 Works Council.
“We already knew it could work based on his
prior experience.”
Indiana Vision 2025: Outstanding Talent
Andrew Melin, superintendent of Greater
Clark County Schools, says, “Our mission
is to make sure every student graduates
to a postsecondary opportunity.”