As postsecondary pathway options continue to grow, students, counselors, and community-based organizations are leaning into learning the best ways to support their students' goals. Recent National Student Clearinghouse data shows that the rise in certificate completion has been substantial within the last few years. In Missouri, certificate and apprenticeship completion is on the rise. The Show Me state is ranked within the top three for the most programs registered as an apprenticeship, as the state works towards its 2030 goal of “Building Missouri’s Future” through by developing
pathways and removing barriers to educational attainment and workforce participation.
To align with the national and state career pathway framework, counselors and advisors are looking to enhance their skills and knowledge in more holistic career and college pathways. In response to this need, the Missouri College and Career Attainment Network (MOCAN) developed an enhanced training model aimed at boosting counselor and advisor confidence and skills in career advising, while also increasing their capacity to advise students
on the numerous postsecondary options available.
MOCAN is Missouri’s go-to resource for training and support in college and career advising. According to the organization, nearly half of the state’s high school counselors engage in the free Professional Development Institute (PDI) workshops, which cover financial aid, career pathways, and advising strategies. These workshops are available to high school counselors, nonprofit college access professionals, and higher
education precollegiate staff involved in student postsecondary planning.
To develop a new career advising series aimed at enhancing counselors' ability to guide students in their career aspirations and skill development, MOCAN enlisted the expertise of two experienced consultants: The Opportunity Network and Dr. Lakeisha Mathews, Director of the Career and Internship Center at the University of Baltimore (MD) and former President
of the National Career Development Association. As a result of this partnership, four in-person and virtual career advising workshops and related resources were developed,
including topics such as “Passions, Values, and Skills: Creating Opportunities for Student-Centered Career Exploration” and “Employer Relations: Connecting Students to the Real World”. MOCAN evaluates its PDI sessions through counselor reflection
on improvement of their knowledge and skills. This information is collected through questions on the registration form, serving as a pre-test. It is later compared to responses from a post-workshop evaluation survey to assess the overall impact.
MOCAN has successfully hosted four career-focused PDI workshops with the latest, entitled “Pivot or Persevere - Cultivating Curiosity in the Pursuit of Career Success”
in collaboration with The Opportunity Network. Participants explored “processes to help students navigate through a myriad obstacles that arise in pursuit of career.” You can register for MOCAN’s free PDI trainings here.
Valuable Insights
Ready to update your organization's career and college advising strategies? We encourage you to consider valuable insights drawn from MOCAN’s approach.
Center practitioner voices in training development. Counselors and advisers are critical contributors to the success of career advising programs and should play an integral role in the development of training initiatives. As front-line professionals who directly engage with students, they often have an understanding
of the evolving challenges students face in their career exploration and development. Their experiences and feedback can help shape a training program that equips career advisers with the tools and strategies necessary to guide students effectively.
Embrace the strengths of collaboration. Collaboration is a powerful tool for driving meaningful change in training curricula. By partnering with local and national experts, organizations can tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience
that enhances the overall effectiveness of their programs. Collaborators not only bring their expertise in best practices, but also their understanding of the latest research, trends, and evolving strategies in career and college advising.
Make trainings accessible. With an average of 376-to-one student to school counselor ratio in the US, it can be challenging
for counselors to engage in professional development. It is important to prioritize the development of accessible PD. For as many in-person sessions offered, consider offering virtual sessions and uploading related materials to an online management
learning system that is self-paced and can be accessed at anytime and anywhere.
As the landscape of postsecondary pathways continues to evolve, it is crucial for counselors and advisors to stay equipped with the latest tools and strategies to support students in their career and college exploration. MOCAN’s commitment to providing
targeted professional development through workshops and resources plays a pivotal role in strengthening Missouri’s college and career advising infrastructure. By prioritizing practitioner voices, embracing collaboration, and ensuring accessibility,
MOCAN has created a model that not only enhances the skills of counselors but also improves the overall support available to students. States and organizations are encouraged to take a proactive approach in developing training programs to support
the growing need for comprehensive career advising.
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