The mission of the center is to bring about a more equitable environment for all learners in New Jersey public schools (grades K-12) through the implementation of career development training; preservice and inservice professional development; marketing of nontraditional career resources and lending library of videos and materials; identification and recognition of equity best practices; development of equity partnerships and networks; leadership training to include gender-fair instructional practices in the classroom; and proactive efforts to create safe and equitable schools.

The SNCAC center provides nontraditional occupational information and training opportunities for students in grades K-12 and special population groups through the elimination of barriers that prevent access to these training programs, and through the development of activities that support New Jersey’s commitment to Workplace Readiness Standards as identified in the Core Curriculum Content Standards.

The statewide objectives of SNCAC are to:

• increase positive attitudes in educators and students toward careers that are nontraditional for females and males;
• increase knowledge of equitable issues and workplace readiness standards for females and males in career preparation through presentation of Careers 2001-2002 workshops in every New Jersey county;
• increase knowledge about careers that are nontraditional for females and males among K-12 students, parents, and educators;
• decrease behaviors that reinforce gender bias in the classroom;
• increase nontraditional enrollments for employment opportunities across the private and public sectors;
• increase student and educator behaviors that address barriers to access careers that are nontraditional for females and males;
• increase availability of resources for educators and workforce readiness system members;
• increase incorporation of workplace readiness standards in teacher’s lesson plans for students in grades K-12; and
• increase opportunities for all students in grades K-12 to achieve international competitive standards that include problem-solving, critical thinking, and active learning; thereby creating an environment for high-wage employment in tomorrow’s global, information-based economy.

The center also produces three issues per year of the Equity and ASETS Exchange newsletter to keep educators and students aware of current gender equity events, programs, and pertinent equity issues. It also has a lending library of resource materials and videos about gender equity, nontraditional careers, sexual harassment, and other equity issues.

The following is the list of SNCAC’s accomplishments during the past three years:

For K-12 students and educators:

• trained over 1,200 students in leadership skills in 135 school districts.
• trained over 2,400 students in identifying and exploring careers of the future in order to meet the needs of the global economy.
• implemented a hands-on, after-school technology education program for students and their parents in 28 Abbott districts.
• created equity awareness through assembly programs for more than 10,000 students.
• conducted statewide inservice and professional development training for over 1,300 New Jersey educators.

For Educators, the Corporate Sector, and the Community at Large:

• disseminated 30,000 Equity Exchange newsletters containing information relevant to equity issues.
• conducted annual awards program to recognize the accomplishments of students, educators, and business/industry partnerships who promote equity practices.
• distributed thousands of free resource materials annually to New Jersey’s school districts. Maintained a free resource lending library. Exhibited equity display at career fairs, conferences, and workshops.
• sponsored, co-sponsored, and presented workshops at local and national conferences.
• collaborated with state, local, and national organizations to provide input and recommendations on current equity issues and activities.
• recipient of numerous, national recognition awards for work in equity, including the 1991 Best Practices Award in Women’s Leadership and Gender Equity from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

The Statewide Nontraditional Career Assistance Center is the only New Jersey statewide center that provides services to school districts and educators dealing with awareness of equity issues and nontraditional career options for students as they prepare to meet the challenges of the 21st Century workforce and the changing global economy.

For more information, please visit the center’s web site at www.equitynj.org, or call the office on campus at 609-771-2816.