Overview
What is a nontraditional occupation or field? The Carl D. Perkins Act of 2006 defines nontraditional fields as "occupations or fields of work, including careers in computer science, technology and other current and emerging high skill occupations, for which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of the individuals employed in each such occupation or field of work." For females, nontraditional fields include the Trades and STEM-related careers. For males, these include nursing, early childhood education, and K-3 teaching careers. However, there are other nontraditional fields for both genders, and there are myriad nontraditional occupations within these fields, which is evident in the list of nontraditional occupations Excel spreadsheet compiled by the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity.
How is CTE in Oregon related to nontraditional occupations? Oregon is committed to decreasing gender disparities in high skill, high wage, and high demand occupations, and recognizes the important role that Career and Technical Education (CTE) plays. CTE can help increase the pipeline of individuals prepared to pursue careers in nontraditional fields by encouraging students to explore nontraditional fields, providing relevant and rigorous training, and fostering the skills students need to persist and succeed in their respective work environments.
This website provides resources for educators who wish to strengthen or create CTE projects related to nontraditional occupations, as well as information for parents and students about nontraditional careers and related activities or events in their local communities.
2012-2013 CTE Nontraditional Grant Recipients:
- Clackamas ESD
- Make the Shift: Males Mentoring Men toward Healthcare
- Grant ESD, Malheur ESD, and Treasure Valley Community College
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Connecting Females with Science and Math through Alternative Energy Opportunities and the Building and Manufacturing Trades
- PACTEC and Portland Community College
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Electrical Engineering Technician (EET) Career Exploration
- Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon ESD
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STEM Academy and CTE Learning Series
- Salem-Keizer Public Schools
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Males in Healthcare
- Southwestern Oregon Community College and South Coast ESD
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New Faces of Manufacturing Technology
- Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
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Women in Trades Career Fair and the Building Girls and Local School Outreach Project
For further information, please contact Gabby Sloss.