Business Industry Certification Volunteer Manual Table of Contents

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2 Business Industry Certification Volunteer Manual Table of Contents What is Business Industry Certification Page 3 Historical Information Page 4 Volunteer Responsibilities for Onsite Visit Page 5 Mock Agenda for Onsite Visit Page 7 Questions for Advisory Committee Page 8 Questions for Students Page 9 Pass/No Pass Sample letter Page 10 Sample Press Release Page 11 2

3 What is Business Industry Certification? The purpose of the industry certification program is to promote high quality instruction in business education at the high school level. Industry certification provides recognition to high schools that have exceptional business education programs and document them through the use of the certification criteria. SHRM members and DOE representatives spend one-half day at each participating high school providing an on site evaluation. Thirty-seven standards must be met for the high school to be certified. Each standard is scored using a point method. A minimum score of 40 must be earned. Benefits of Industry Certification to the HR Community? By helping Georgia high schools become industry certified, you are ensuring that students have the most up to date training available. This in turn helps companies staff their organizations with individuals that have current skills. As an HR representative you have the opportunity to influence what business courses are being taught in Georgia high schools and help improve Georgia high schools all around. How YOU can help: Sign up to attend one or more of the schools with the DOE representative to help certify Georgia High Schools. Simply call the SHRM Business/Industry Certification Committee Chairperson to volunteer. 3

4 Historical Information Background The Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM Atlanta) and the Georgia Department of Education (DOE) together in 1991 formed a partnership between the employment community and the educational community to certify Georgia high school business education programs. This certification program resulted as a concern over students receiving a level of educational instruction to be successful contributors in today s American workforce. The first school was certified in March, 1992 Certification is the result of training and hard work by the business faculty at the high schools with tremendous support by the school administration and a community business advisory council. SHRM will partner with the Georgia Department of Education (DOE) to involve the business education advisory councils to directly influence the curriculum and quality of instruction, facilities and equipment. Goals of the Certification The goal of the Business Education Industry Certification is to promote high quality instruction in business education, which in turn, provides business and industry with employees who represent a sound investment. The programs are evaluated against a demanding set of criteria developed by SHRM with the DOE. If a school passes an onsite evaluation, their business education program is publicly recognized by the state as certified by SHRM. Standards and Criteria The certification is based on schools passing 37 standards/criteria based on core employability skills. These standards are reviewed and updated annually. Some examples of these standards include 1) the relevancy and current status of the curriculum to today s work environment, 2) insurance that facilities, equipment, software and textbooks are state-of-the-art, and 3) a competent and professional staff is in place in the classroom and in administrative support roles. Programs of Study Currently schools can choose from eight programs of study: Accounting, Business Administration, Financial Services, Office Systems and Support Services, Information Services and Support, Interactive Media, Network Systems and Programming and Software Development. The school should offer programs of study based on the needs of the business community and the student body as determined by a needs assessment. Application for Certification Schools apply to be certified. Once certified, schools do not have to re-apply for re-certification for five more years. Because high schools all over the state of Georgia are scheduled to be certified each year, the Georgia Council has been working with all SHRM Chapters in the state of Georgia. This allows each chapter to work with their local high schools and gain recognition in their community. 4

5 Volunteer Responsibilities And Instructions for On Site Visit The Education Committee Volunteers are responsible for attending a 3 hour training class with the Education Chair and DOE Representative. After training, the volunteer is required to sign up for one to two on site school visits in the course of a year. Each school visit will take approximately four hours to complete. (This manual has been developed for those that are unable to attend a training class. All the volunteer needs to do is follow the format outline in this volunteer manual) SHRM Volunteers are expected: To be fully prepared for the meeting by reviewing the pre-packet of information prior to the visit date. To lead the Advisory Committee discussion. To present findings to the lead Business faculty member at the conclusion of the evaluation (if that is the decided method of communicating results). To positively represent SHRM and the Human Resources community. Pre-Packet of information You will be sent a packet of information directly from the school you are assigned to evaluate. This packet includes an invitation, directions to the school, and documentation of standards and supporting materials. Review that information prior to visiting the school. If there is anything in the document you have questions about, write those questions down. You will have an opportunity to ask for clarification at the appropriate point in the visit. Visit Overview Objective: to determine if the school is meeting the 37 standards of employability to the level that allows them to pass certification. Typical ½ day meeting includes: Breakfast with the Advisory Committee. Discussion with the Advisory Committee (may take place during breakfast). It is during this time that the evaluation committee asks questions from core list of questions for the Advisory Committee. It is most appropriate for one of the SHRM volunteers to lead this discussion, ensuring that all members of the review committee have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. (see page 8). Review of Certification Criteria binders and projects the school has assembled. There can be upwards of 15 manuals containing necessary documentation. The on site team 5

6 will divide the manuals among themselves in order to meet the time commitment of the review. Students are typically scheduled to give presentations of their long-term projects relative to each program of study. It is appropriate to ask questions at the conclusion of each presentation. Review committee members may ask the students questions from the checklist provided. (see page 9) A tour of the business lab. At this time it is appropriate to interview the teachers and ask for clarification needed on any standard.. After the tour, the on site team will reconvene to discuss the findings of the Certification Criteria binders and projects. The on site team will then make note of the findings and recommendations where appropriate. At this time a pass/no pass decision will be made. The school will be notified of their status indicating pass/no pass along with a Press Release for the school to send to their local paper. Alternatively, the results may be communicated immediately to the lead Business/Industry faculty member. It is appropriate that this discussion be lead by one of the SHRM representatives. *See form letter for findings and recommendations page 10 of this manual. 6

7 Mock Agenda for On Site Visit (You will receive a detailed agenda from the high school regarding the timing of their certification) 8 AM 8:30 AM Informal breakfast meeting with Advisory Committee See check list of core questions page 8 8:30 AM - On site team reviews the documentation 10:30 AM - Student Presentations of Long-Term Projects See check list of core questions page 9 11:00 AM - Tour the Business Lab 11:30 AM - On site team summary review List suggestions/recommendations for the school 12:00 PM - Final meeting with Business teachers 7

8 Core List of Questions for Advisory Committee (Long term and short term goals of the Advisory Committee as well as its mission statement should have been included in the pre-packet of information sent to each review committee volunteer for their assigned school. Be familiar with these goals, as the focus of this discussion should be the Advisory Committees action toward goal achievement.) 1. (Have each committee member introduce himself or herself and share.. ) What is your involvement with the Business Education Department? And, specifically what are you doing to help further the goals set forth by the Advisory Committee? 2. How do you see where the skills that students are obtaining in the Bus Education department would be helpful in your business? 3. Are there any other skills that would be useful in your business? 4. Would you consider hiring a student that has gone through this program? Required elements related to the Advisory Committee: The information below should be included in the per-packet, but certainly questions around these issues may be asked in the meeting with the advisory committee members. - Advisory committee is to meet twice a year. - Copies of the meeting minutes. - Attendance rosters for each meeting. - Copy of the Advisory Committee mission statement. - List of activities involving the advisory committee members. 8

9 Questions for Students It is appropriate to ask specific questions after the student presentations of long-term projects and FBLA Program. Below are suggested questions for presentation follow-up as well as other general questions. Specific presentation follow-up questions: 1. What equipment did you use to complete the project? 2. How many students participated in this project? 3. What did you do if someone did not do his or her share? How did you handle conflict? 4. What was the toughest part of this project? And, what was the best part of this project? General questions: 5. How did you find out about the Bus Ed program? 6. Are you currently participating in the CBE (Cooperative Business Education) program? Are you an FBLA member? 7. Do you feel that the skills you are learning through the Bus Ed department have been helpful in your CBE job? 8. Are you a member in any organizations? 9

10 Sample High School Format for feedback to DOE on pass/no pass The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) (XYZ Chapter) in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Education, conducted the Georgia Industry Certification for Business Education visit to (Name of School). Members of the certification team and their affiliations were: (List names, titles and affiliations of all present). Members of the evaluation team reviewed the Certification Criteria and Lesson Project Notebooks presented by the Business Education Department Team. The (Name of School) Business Education Department Team included: (List Names and titles) The documentation met the criteria in all areas except as noted: Student Projects were presented for review by the evaluation team. Some of the projects included: The following comments/suggestions were noted: Use the Press release - send to your local newspaper indicating your school is industry certified for the next 5 years. (One SHRM volunteer will need to fill out this form and return via to Karen Allen of the DOE. Karen will use this form to generate the letter to the high school.) 10

11 Business Industry Certification Press Release On (fill in date) The Society for Human Resource Management of (fill in chapter name) attended (fill in high school name) high school to review their Business Education Department for Industry Certification. The SHRM of (name of chapter) has deemed that (fill in school name) High School has passed the 37 Industry Certification standards/criteria and will be certified for the next five years. This is a tremendous honor for (name of high school) High School and the community of (county name) this certification signifies that students from this school have the employability skills that will benefit the business community. (Submit photos of the certifying team, along with the press release if available) 11