1. Career Planning Readiness
Self Assessment
academic pathway and Career
Exploration
Action Planning, Decision Making
Presented by:
Lourdes Delgado
Wolfson Campus
Marisel Madrigal
North Campus
Marc Webb
Wolfson Campus
2. What is FOCUS 2?
FOCUS 2 is an online, interactive,
self-guided career, academic pathway
and education planning system.
Comparison with Choices Planner
and Career Coach:
FOCUS 2
• combines the features of both
• Is more user friendly
• Is more directed with MDC pathways
• Allows for robust reporting
• Is capable of a using Single Sign On (SSO)
3. What does FOCUS 2 Offer MDC Students?
For students who are:
• unsure of their academic
pathway
• unaware of their academic
pathway offered at the College
and related occupations
• wondering what to do with their
academic pathway
• unsure of which careers best
suit them
• interested in developing a
career plan that works for them
• ready to make informed career
decisions
Students can:
• select an academic
pathway based on
interests and aspirations
• discover occupations by
matching personal
preferences and
attributes
• map out a career plan,
present and future
• make informed career
decisions
3
4. Ready
• Career Planning Readiness: Orientation to FOCUS
2 & the Career Planning Process
Assess
• Assessment: Interests, Personality, Skills, Values, Needs
Explore
• Explore Options: Identify and explore academic pathways
& Occupations matching personal attributes
Decide
• Decision Making: Select academic pathway & explore
Career Paths
• Action Plan: Map out steps to achieve goals
FOCUS 2’s Rigorous Decision Making Model
4
9. Next Steps
Senior Advisor Caseloads
• Require completion of FOCUS 2 prior to
mandatory advisement session in Fall 2014-1 for
FTIC DE 14902 (pre-bachelor of arts) students.
Strongly recommend for any other student.
– Students will bring their FOCUS 2 report with them to
their mandatory advisement session during 2014-1
Career Exploration Referrals
• Recommend FOCUS 2 for students needing career
advisement
– Students will complete FOCUS 2 on or off campus,
bring results to career advisement follow-up session,
and advisor will review results with student
10. Next Steps Continued
Faculty use in courses
• Promote FOCUS 2 to SLS faculty for optional
use in courses
– Use in new FYE SLS 1106 course
• Available for use with SLS 1505, SLS 1510, and SLS 1125
– Provide training and support for faculty who use
FOCUS 2
– Available to any faculty member wishing to use
FOCUS 2
Based on recommendations of the Testing & Assessment team, MDC has a one year contract to pilot use (July 2013 – August 2014)
537 students at 7 campuses utilized FOCUS 2
With advising caseloads
As part of a course
With undecided and prospective students
Eventually recommend the use of a V1 hold for completion of FOCUS 2 assignment. Propose to require completion of FOCUS 2 as a pre-requisite for online orientation by2015-1.
