Membership Benefits and Activities

The National Career Pathways Network serves as a conduit for timely information and effective partnerships. Through the network, practitioners can receive solutions to such challenges as program implementation and administration, counseling, funding, and recruitment. The network also serves as a vehicle for practitioners, businesses, industries, and educational organizations to forge partnerships, through which they mutually benefit from the successes of one another. Most NCPN members are teachers, administrators, counselors, employers, and community leaders who are involved in high school or community college workforce education programs.

Strategic Alliance with Employers
NCPN members from business and industry advise the Network on relationships and partnerships between the education community and employers, while enhancing national awareness of Career Pathways and Tech Prep among the corporate community.

Membership Benefits

National Conference
The Network hosts an annual national conference that features over 250 informative sessions. Leaders from education, business, and government address issues ranging from legislation and funding to contextual learning. Network members receive a conference registration discount that is greater than the individual annual membership fee.

Daniel M. Hull and Dale P. Parnell Partnership Excellence Award
(Formerly the Exemplary Worksite Learning Award)
Sponsored by Caterpillar Inc. and co-sponsored in 2007 by Texas Instruments, this award was established in 1995 by CORD and the National Career Pathways Network to encourage Tech Prep/School-to-Career initiatives to integrate meaningful worksite opportunities into their curricula and to showcase the best of these programs. In 2007 the award was renamed and refocused to include all Career Pathways partnerships. Winners receive national recognition and a cash prize.

NCPNTalk Listserv
NCPN members share comments and engage in discussions for program assistance and enhancement by using NCPN’s listserv, ncpntalk, available only to NCPN members. Members interested in subscribing should contact Teemus Warner.

Connections Newsletter
NCPN members receive Connections, a newsletter containing the latest Career Pathways and Tech Prep news on curricula, learning styles, business involvement, and professional development. Articles and guest columns from practitioners appear in each issue.  Download a sample issue of Connections  using Adobe Acrobat .

Technical Assistance
NCPN members can take advantage of technical assistance services available through the Network such as program evaluation and mentor training. Contact ncpn@cord.org  for further details.

Members Only Resource Library
This members-only resource tool outlines the nuts and bolts of coordinating local Career Pathways and Tech Prep efforts. Definitions, examples, articles, and other resources have been compiled to provide a practical guide to partnership administration for practicioners at all levels.  The Resource Library also features job openings.

Web Site
Publications and links to other resources of interest are available on NCPN’s web site in the Members Only area.