Program Components:

Outreach/recruitment/marketing

Career counseling/exploration

Business-community partnership

Financial supports

Collaborative funding

Dr. Lynn Shaw

562-938-4301

lshaw@lbcc.edu

in or exploring high school or college training programs or careers that are non-traditional

to their gender.

and to impact VTEA Core Indicator number 4, nontraditional enrollment and placement.

ways. These include:

In order to increase the student, faculty, and staff awareness of nontraditional

careers, Dr. Shaw visits academic classes along with a nontraditional role model to discuss

nontraditional careers. They discuss the financial and other rewards as well as the

possible pitfalls. Dr. Shaw works with the faculty (via email or face to face) to decide

topics, special needs, desired outcomes, appropriate questions, etc. In addition, Dr. Shaw

provides a literature table in each classroom. Examples of past role models are a Crime

Scene Investigator in a Life Science Class and a Long Shore Woman in a Business Class.

Dr. Shaw has a theory of “Water the Green Grass.” As opposed to trying to

convert faculty or staff that are resistant to nontraditional students or employees, Dr. Shaw

works with faculty who have expressed an interest.

One hundred and twenty girls from eight high schools took part in a one-day

conference. Conference workshops included topics such as Geology ("Rock On"), Crime

Scene Investigating, and Computer Aided Drafting. Each participant engaged in the

nontraditional task of constructing a picture frame. Women from nontraditional careers in

full uniform (fire fighter, machinist, etc) attended the conference and had their pictures

taken with the students. At the close of the conference, two $500 scholarships to Long

Beach City College were awarded.

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Personal advising is available at the WITTC center but advising is also available

via phone and email. The advising covers areas that include welfare benefits, decisions

facing the student, other colleges in the area or that offer a program that the student is

interested in, issues surrounding high school and high school diplomas, and how to work

with employers. Additionally, Dr. Shaw and her staff will intercede with college or high

school faculty as needed.

A welcome packet and letter is given to each nontraditional student. The welcome

packet includes information about the center and other support services and resources

available on campus.

Each student receives a $108.75 Redwing boot voucher that they can redeem for

any work boots that they choose. Frequently students choose less expensive boots in

order to allow additional boots or other services to be purchased or provided for other

students.

The program has developed strong relationships with agencies and industry

advisory groups in an effort to allow students to have better and more options in terms of

internships, industry access, and jobs. Some of the professional groups the program has

close ties with include the WINTER (Women in Nontraditional Employment Roles),

Electric Women, and Sisters in the Brotherhood. These groups are partners on projects

and the conference. In addition, Dr. Shaw has cultivated a relationship with which has

begun a program, along with Dr. Shaw, that gives qualified women opportunities to repair

Sears products to gain experience. So far, there have been four classes with over sixty

students in each class. All those students who completed the class were able to pass the

industry examination.

Dr. Shaw learned that African American women were applying for jobs on the

Long Beach docks but were frequently turned away. Dr. Shaw began a program to

enhance their abilities by providing tutoring, test preparation, as well as support for the

appeal process. As a result, many of the women were hired into well-paying jobs.

ethnicities as well as gender balanced.

of Architecture and Drafting, and an advisory group consisting of committed individuals

from the community, college, and K-adult schools in the area. In addition, each school

that chooses to send girls to the conference must participate on The Soroptimists WITTC

advisory committee

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with computer access, a library of nontraditional career books and resources, as well as

providing a space to gather and meet with peers and Dr. Shaw.

from multiple sources including campus VTEA campus funds at approximately $20,000.

The bulk of remaining funds come from the Soroptimists.

tools depicting Rosie the Riveter with a “Picture Yourself in a Nontraditional Career”

message. Workshops are also presented at statewide conferences, meetings and on

campus.

attendance and career choices made by the girls and women who participate in the

program. One measure of success is that other colleges have implemented, or are

considering implementing the program.

insufficient funding and the attitude that women aren’t interested, or that it is too hard for

them. Suggestions to keep in mind when starting a program include: start small, “water

the green grass,” and learn from others.