Why Do We Need A Caseload Cap?

“To increase PC caseload sizes would fundamentally change the relationship between each scholar and their PC, which in itself is the heart of OMD’s model and cannot be replaced by technology. OMD’s website puts it best: “Through their relationship with their Program Coordinator, scholars know that OMD is in their corner every step of the way.”” Sara Birchler, Former Program Operations Coordinator The reason OMD exists is to help fill the resource gap that many community college students in the Chicago area face. For an OMD scholar, they may only be able to meet with their school advisor once a semester, but they meet with their OMD PC at least once a month and up to once a week. Just from a mathematical standpoint, one staff person can only meet with a certain amount of people per month, especially when accounting for the additional time needed for other job functions, such as documenting scholar interactions, coordinating scholar events, and coordinating with other OMD staff, t...

"When Program Coordinators burn out it means students lose the person who tethered them to this program: they lose the person they confided in, and they are told to start over and tell those same personal details to another person who will most likely leave in less than a year. If OMD cares about their scholars and program coordinators and wants to provide a quality program, they will agree to a reasonable caseload cap of 45." Naomi Ramsay, Career Advancement Coordinator I have worked at One Million Degrees for six months now, and I feel like a veteran because of our high turnover rate. When I was hired as the Career Advancement Coordinator for the Medical Assisting Pathways Program, in October 2019, I was told there would be no more than 50 students on my caseload at a time. The last position I had, before OMD, I worked with a maximum of 18 students at a time, so the thought of working with 50 students to provide them with quality services felt impossible. I honestly ...

"A caseload cap is one of the most important ways to ensure scholars get a quality program, and the Program Coordinators/Managers who work directly with students are best positioned to know what an appropriate number is. OMD management needs to listen to OMD's scholar-facing staff, and institute a mutually agreed upon, enforceable caseload cap so that our students get the time and energy they each deserve." Melanie Wagner, Senior Program Coordinator From the beginning, United Workers of One Million Degrees has been adamant about needing a caseload cap in order to better serve our students. In our initial statement of purpose from July 2018, we wrote: “Each scholar should always be treated with dignity and respect, not as if they were just another number. This can begin to be addressed by capping the number of scholars in each worker’s caseload; ensuring that each scholar will get the time and attention they deserve.” One of the big reasons that we need an enforce...