Have you ordered WOIS for 2010-2011?  If you are a continuing customer and have not placed your order by August 31, your access to WOIS will no longer be available on September 1.  Sites keys change on September 1 as well.  New site keys will be emailed to site administrators by the end of this week -- watch your inbox for yours and share it with the rest of your staff as soon as possible!

Free Statewide Fall Training sessions are scheduled and ready for your registration.  Use our online registration found on the WOIS homepage.  Register early, these training sessions usually fill quickly.  If you have a number of staff who need training, contact Tami at tami@wois.org to schedule a free 2-hour training session at your site.

What's New?  We have many new enhancements!  Here is a list of some of the new WOIS features.  If you want more information about any of these, email tami@wois.org.

• Reality Check (budgeting tool)
• Create your own Student/Client Surveys in the Portfolio
• Create checklists for tracking assignment completion
• National School Search and School Compare -- integrated with the national schools that are now completely included in WOIS
• More Occupations
• More Resources -- linked directly from the appropriate information sections
• Live Chat!  If an operator is available, get real-time support by clicking on the Live Support button on the bottom of the left-side menu.
• Great Futures - an add-on (small additional cost) to the WOIS system that integrates an advisory or career and educational planning curriculum with all the WOIS resources.  Everything is in one place.  Easy to access by teachers and students.  Includes graphically appealing slide shows for easy lesson plan delivery.  All lessons are student-focused, so they are engaging for both teachers and students.

On-site demos for WOIS and/or Great Futures are always free. 

Important information:  All students with WOIS Portfolios have been automatically grade-promoted for the coming school year.  If you have seniors who should have graduated in 2010, but are still working on their graduation requirements, they will be found on your Inactive list and can be brought back to your active list of students by simply clicking on the word "inactive."

Best wishes for a wonderful year!  If you need anything at all, please contact us at 1-800-700-WOIS or tami@wois.org.

Get Real-Time Customer Service from WOIS

Get WOIS support and technical answers quickly and easily with Live Support!  Simply click on the Live Support link on the lower right corner of the WOIS screen to chat with customer support.  If customer support is offline, you can leave a message and your answer will be emailed to you as soon as someone is available.

Live Support is our latest effort to provide quality customer service to counselors, teachers, clients and students.

WOIS Renewal Reminder

Don't be caught without WOIS access on September 1, 2010.  Remember to return your WOIS order for 2010-2011 by August 31.

Only a few Spots are left for Great Futures University

Great Futures University is a workshop that provides hands-on training for teachers, counselors, and advisors in the new life, career and educational planning curriculum from WOIS.  This workshop is designed for people from sites that have already ordered Great Futures as an add-on to WOIS, or people who are interested in learning more about the Great Futures resources.   The workshop is two mornings.  It's free, with six free clock hours.
 

Dates and Locations for Great Futures University:

July 12 and 13, Columbia Basin College

July 14 and 15, Edmonds Community College -- FULL, but you can get on the waiting list.

July 21 and 22, Bower Learning Center, Olympia -- Only six spots available

July 26 and 27, Eastern Washington University -- FULL, but you can get on a waiting list.

July 28 and 29, Lower Columbia College

Register today!
 

WOIS/The Career Information System is Washington State's most comprehensive career and educational planning resource and is used in over 900 sites in the state of Washington.  WOIS has provided career assessment tools, detailed information about occupations, educational programs, and postsecondary institutions, along with supporting activities and resources, for more than 35 years.  WOIS provides complete, accurate and up-to-date information for Washington State and NOW also provides national wage, outlook, and college information.  As a non-profit organization, our goal is to provide these resources, and related training and technical support, at the lowest cost possible, to the institutions and organizations in Washington State.

You've patiently waited for WOIS to revise our School Search to work with our new national school database.  Your wait is over!  School Search is back in WOIS and better than ever!  Check it out -- you can link to it from Assessments (under Other Exploration Tools), Educational Programs or Schools.

Great Futures sites -- watch for new lesson plans in the next week or two that address college planning and incorporate the new WOIS School Search.

It's not too late to register for July's Great Futures University -- coming to a location near you -- Edmonds, Longview, Spokane, Olympia, and Tri-Cities.  Register today!  Free registration and Free Clock Hours.  Whether you have already ordered Great Futures, or want to experience the program to make a decision about ordering, you are welcome to attend this two-day (mornings only so you can still enjoy the afternoon sun!) workshop.

REMINDER!  WOIS Subscribers -- remember to place your WOIS order before August 31 to ensure uninterrupted service. 

WOIS/The Career Information System is Washington State's most comprehensive career and educational planning resource and is used in over 900 sites in the state of Washington.  WOIS has provided career assessment tools, detailed information about occupations, educational programs, and postsecondary institutions, along with supporting activities and resources, for more than 35 years.  WOIS provides complete, accurate and up-to-date information for Washington State and NOW also provides national wage, outlook, and college information.  As a non-profit organization, our goal is to provide these resources, and related training and technical support, at the lowest cost possible, to the institutions and organizations in Washington State.

Congratulations to Michael Severance from Richland High School for being chosen to receive the 2010 WOIS Scholarship.

Michael has used WOIS extensively to research his post-high school options.  This is part of Michael's description of his career and educational planning process:

"During my four years of high school I have changed my career path at least four times.  I have considered everything from commercial pilot, to a chef, to marine biologist.  Each time WOIS has played a major role by providing me with priceless information about each career field.  The section of WOIS that I found most helpful in my career search was the job description section.  I have a wide array of traits that could be applied in different careers, but WOIS helped me weed out ones that would not fit my needs."

After describing how he weeded out certain careers based on the information he received from WOIS, Michael tells us how he discovered that aerospace engineering would be a good fit for him:

"Finally I discovered aerospace engineering, which combines my fascination of flight with my love for designing and my skills in math and science.  I think this is the right career path for me, and without WOIS I might have never discovered it."

Michael plans to study aerospace engineering at the University of Washington and has already learned a lot about the research opportunities available through UW.   After he receives his degree, he plans to work for NASA or Boeing.

We wish Michael the best of luck as he works to create his successful future!

Thank you to all the students who submitted WOIS scholarship applications.  We would love to give scholarships to all of you, but unfortunately have to choose just one person.

Renewal information has been mailed out to all WOIS subscribers.  If you haven't seen yours, please contact us at tami@wois.org or 1-800-700-WOIS to request another package.

We know we aren't the only game in town, and we appreciate the support and faith you have put into the WOIS services over the past 36 years.  If you are looking at another system, we hope you will talk with us before you consider a switch.  Maybe we have something that fits your needs that you are not aware of.  WOIS provides everything other systems provide AND MORE, that's why we are the most-used system in Washington State.

WOIS is a user-driven organization, so the features we add every year are brought to us by you, our users.  We also customize features to meet your needs, so don't be afraid to ask.

A few features added in the past year include:

• National Colleges incorporated directly into the WOIS system (this is no longer a separate link)
• Custom Portfolio Reports
• Reality Check -- a fun budgeting tool
• Great Futures Advisory/Career Unit Curriculum (additional charge, but seamless integration)
• Interest Area Sort
• Improved High School and Beyond Plan
• Return of School Compare
• Goal Setting section of the WOIS Portfolio
• Pathway descriptions in the 16 Cluster Descriptions
• Ability to add your own links and Culminating Project resources to the Portfolio

Returning soon (by September 1) -- National School Sort!

Remember, we are always available to provide a free demonstration or a free staff training.  

We look forward to serving your career and educational planning needs in 2010-2011.

WOIS/The Career Information System is Washington State's most comprehensive career and educational planning resource and is used in over 900 sites in the state of Washington.  WOIS has provided career assessment tools, detailed information about occupations, educational programs, and postsecondary institutions, along with supporting activities and resources, for more than 35 years.  WOIS provides complete, accurate and up-to-date information for Washington State and NOW also provides national wage, outlook, and college information.  As a non-profit organization, our goal is to provide these resources, and related training and technical support, at the lowest cost possible, to the institutions and organizations in Washington State.

WOIS has added a link to a list of jobs with Bright Outlooks, and another list of jobs in Green Economy Sectors.  These lists were developed by the US Department of Labor for the O*Net OnLine.  The link from WOIS provides easy access for your students, clients and patrons.

Bright Outlook occupations are expected to grow rapidly in the next several years, will have large numbers of new job openings, or are new and emerging occupations.

The green economy will cause a change in occupations' employment demand or work and worker requirements such as tasks, skills, knowledge, and credentials. Green occupations are linked to Green Economy Sectors.

These links can be found in the Resources box on the right side of the Occupation Index, which is accessed by clicking on Occupations from your main menu.

Easy!  If you have questions, please email tami@wois.org.

WOIS/The Career Information System is Washington State's most comprehensive career and educational planning resource and is used in over 900 sites in the state of Washington.  WOIS has provided career assessment tools, detailed information about occupations, educational programs, and postsecondary institutions, along with supporting activities and resources, for more than 35 years.  WOIS provides complete, accurate and up-to-date information for Washington State and NOW also provides national wage, outlook, and college information.  As a non-profit organization, our goal is to provide these resources, and related training and technical support, at the lowest cost possible, to the institutions and organizations in Washington State.

WOIS and Great Choices have teamed together to develop a powerful tool that is the answer to your challenges with advisories, culminating projects, career units, and high school and beyond planning.

WOIS subscribers will receive information with their renewal package (coming soon!) about the cost to integrate GREAT FUTURES with the WOIS tools. If you can’t wait to see this wonderful new resource and want a FREE demo right away, please contact Tami at 1-800-700-9647 or tami@wois.org.

Check out the new Interest Area sort in the WOIS Occupation section.  Choose the Interest Area you feel is your best match, then choose the level of education you wish to attain (or choose them all), and see the careers that match your choices!

To see all of this year's new WOIS features, attend one of the upcoming FREE WOIS Training sessions.  Free Clock hours are provided.

Wednesday, March 17, 3:00 to 6:00 -- Ballard High School

Friday, March 19, 8:30 to 2:00 -- Columbia Basin College

Friday, March 26, 8:30 to 2:00 -- Lower Columbia College

Space is limited, so register today.  For more information and to register, click here.

The Education Planner in the WOIS Portfolio is now the High School and Beyond Plan.  This section now has more options! 

In the High School and Beyond Details, students can record their Career Path, Program of Study, up to three Post-High School Plans with specifics for those plans, and up to three Career Goals.  This section can be used by iteself, or combined with the planned coursework for a student's educational career.

In the Terms and Classes section, students can create their course plan for their educational career.  Just as before, this section can be revisited often for updates to coursework, grades, credits, etc.

Four reports provide flexibility to meet everyone's needs.  They are:

Current Details Report:  shows High School & Beyond Plan details for the highest grade for which they have been entered.

Classes Report: shows terms and classes for all years.

Summary Report: combines the information from the Current Details and Classes Reports (most recent details and terms and classes for all years)

Full Report: shows all information - High School & Beyond Plan details, terms, and classes - for all years entered.

Portfolio Administrators:  Remember you can customize the list of classes to match the classes offered at your school, customize your pathways and programs of study, and generate High School and Beyond reports for a group of students through the Portfolio Administration.  To generate reports, simply choose the students you wish to generate reports for, then click Generate Reports at the bottom of your student list.  Choose the report you wish to generate -- then click and let the system do the work for you!

Remember, there are now eight FREE Portfolio training workshops in February and March, all around the state, that can help you learn how to use the Portfolio High School and Beyond Plan and other great features available in the WOIS Portfolio system.  Register today!

Thank you to a number of WOIS sites that helped to shape this improved High School and Beyond Plan section, including Central Kitsap High School, Anacortes High School, Sehome High School, and Shadle Park High School.

WOIS/The Career Information System is Washington State's most comprehensive career and educational planning resource and is used in over 900 sites in the state of Washington.  WOIS has provided career assessment tools, detailed information about occupations, educational programs, and postsecondary institutions, along with supporting activities and resources, for more than 35 years.  WOIS provides complete, accurate and up-to-date information for Washington State and NOW also provides national wage, outlook, and college information.  As a non-profit organization, our goal is to provide these resources, and related training and technical support, at the lowest cost possible, to the institutions and organizations in Washington State. 

Every spring we award a $750 scholarship to one or more students or clients of our WOIS user sites.  This scholarship is sponsored by WOIS and the Center for Learning Connections .

Nominations must be submitted by those administering a current WOIS site (individuals may not nominate themselves). Each site may nominate one student or client per year. Funds awarded will be paid directly to the scholarship recipient after he or she has sent transcripts to WOIS from one quarter or semester of post-high school training. The scholarship must be used within one calendar year after it is awarded, and funds may be used for any expenses related to training.

Log in to WOIS today and nominate your student or client!  Applications are due on April 16, 2010.

WOIS/The Career Information System is Washington State's most comprehensive career and educational planning resource and is used in over 900 sites in the state of Washington.  WOIS has provided career assessment tools, detailed information about occupations, educational programs, and postsecondary institutions, along with supporting activities and resources, for more than 35 years.  WOIS provides complete, accurate and up-to-date information for Washington State and NOW also provides national wage, outlook, and college information.  As a non-profit organization, our goal is to provide these resources, and related training and technical support, at the lowest cost possible, to the institutions and organizations in Washington State.