Traction in Local Hiring: Expanding on Success with C3 Fellows

The Central Corridor Anchor Partnership (CCAP) is doubling the scope of its Central Corridor College (C3) Fellows program just as partners have learned that the Partnership has met and surpassed a key goal, to increase the hiring of local Corridor residents 5% by 2017.  Joining the ranks of the two inaugural C3 Fellows institutions—Minneapolis Technical & Community College and Saint Paul College—are Augsburg, St. Catherine University, and Metropolitan State University. 

The Partnership initiated the C3 Fellows Program in 2013 as a key strategy to create a more diverse and local healthcare workforce, and provide college students improved access to relevant work experience.  Since 2013, the C3 Fellows Program enrolled 411 community college students and placed 132 of these students in part-time positions in health care.  C3 Fellows were 72% low-income; 75% female; 68% students of color; and 34% first-generation college students. Fellows earned an average wage of $14.44 per hour, and had an overall academic success rate (calculated by combining data on retention, transfer, and graduation) that was 10% above their peers. 

Growing a local workforce

Laura Beeth, Fairview's System Director for Talent Acquisition

CCAP is committed to achieving a workforce among anchor institutions that is more representative of local communities along the Central Corridor in order to contribute to better local health outcomes, improved educational achievement, and increased household incomes.  declared that we wanted to boost the percentage of employees who live in our nearby zip codes from 13% to 18% by 2017.  Recent data collected from partners confirmed that the Partnership met and surpassed this goal – hitting 19.5% in 2015.

While this initiative has multiple benefits for students, employers also believe that C3 Fellows will be a strong source for local, reliable employees who serve important interests in longer-term retention, institutional loyalty, and reduced recruitment costs.  Laura Beeth, Fairview’s System Director for Talent Acquisition, believes that the C3 Fellows program contributed directly and also in a significant indirect way to achieving the local workforce objective.  “I know that as we work on C3 Fellows, Scrubs Camp and other initiatives to grow a more local and diverse workforce, these values become increasingly imbedded in our leadership culture and reflected in all we do to grow our workforce.”

Model of Partnership

The McKnight Foundation and the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative were key initial investors in C3Devinder Malhotra, President, Metropolitan State University Fellows.  Both employer and college partners have committed to funding the C3 Fellows program and thereby decrease the level of dependence on foundations.  

Support from the three new colleges was prompt and enthusiastic.  “This is a great investment in opportunities for our students,” noted Augsburg College’s President Paul Pribbenow.  “And we see great value in our relationship with employers and the community.”  President of Metropolitan State University, Devinder Malhotra, concurred.  “We see a critical need to position our students for career success,” he explained.  “We are grateful for this partnership opportunity to strengthen what we can offer by cooperating with health care employers.” 

“The beauty of C3 Fellows is that we are accomplishing something powerful together that none of the partners would or could do alone,” reflected Michael Christenson, Associate Vice President at MCTC.  “That is the key to effective partnerships.” 

Survey Results: Transit is Teachable

Augsburg College Freshmen clearly see transit in their future.  Ninety-six percent (96%) of respondents in a student survey said that they will continue to be transit users after participating in the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership’s  Go To card initiative with Metro Transit.

CCAP is committed to boosting transit use by students and employees by 5% in five years.  Metro Transit developed a pilot project with the Partnership to provide each Augsburg freshman a Go To card loaded with $20 at the beginning of student orientation, with the offer that students who loaded $10 on their card by October 1 would gain $45 more in value.  The Partnership set a goal of persuading 15% of the Freshman Class to spend $10 on their Go To cards, or 72 students.  By October 1, 146 students had signed on, more than double the goal. 

Whether new to public transit or veteran riders accustomed to paying cash for their trips, students reported inAugsburg student the survey that they loved the ease and convenience of using and re-loading the stored value Go-To Cards.  Metro Transit staff, CCAP, and Augsburg Vice President of Student Affairs Ann Garvey created the eleven question survey with contributions from Augsburg’s pilot program student interns Sulin Phat and Anisa Sharif.  The student interns played the key role of helping phrase questions to elicit honest, considerate responses from their peers. The resulting survey aimed to assess the core thoughts and decision making that contributed to student participation in the transit pilot program.

Teaching Transit

Augsburg studentAugsburg created its Augsburg Seminar Go-To Card Pilot Program to connect students with the local community via greater use of public transit. The college also aimed to familiarize students with public transit and establish a new generation of “transit natives” who would begin the habit of lifelong public transit use.

Many responded that peer-to-peer communication throughout the semester, on-campus efforts let by the pilot program’s student interns, and in-class reminders from professors touting the program all helped the pilot participants remember to use transit, and feel comfortable doing so.

Looking Ahead

One of the most important lessons learned is that integrating transit into the Freshman orientation curriculum creates many layers of benefit for students.  CCAP is hoping to build on this model by adding more college partners who are interested in taking a similar approach with their orientation programs. 

CCAP's Preferred Pricing at Warners' Stellian

CCAP members can continue to take advantage of preferred pricing from Corridor-based Warners’ Stellian, a family owned local business since 1954.  In partnership with the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities, CCAP negotiated an agreement with Warners’ Stellian in 2013 that has been renewed and offers a 10-15% over cost prices, depending on the manufacturer.  Historically CCAP has purchased refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, ranges, and air conditioners but Warners’ Stellian is able to offer more unique items as well, including medical grade.  The contract is available to all CCAP members and includes free delivery.   Fairview has already take advantage of the contract and reported that the customer service was excellent.

Allison Warner, one of the third generation family members involved in the business, said the partnership with CCAP is mutually beneficial and she looks forward to getting orders from CCAP members.  Warners’ Stellian has a strong commitment to the Central Corridor neighborhood and has a track record of hiring locally and helping people advance in their careers.

A “hot list” of the most common items is available on request and Warners’ Stellian staff will be pleased to provide a quote on any other items with the 10-15% over cost price.  It is very important that orders be placed through the Warners’ Stellian Builder’s Division and not through the retail stores. Contract prices cannot be obtained in the retail stores.