Community College Journal of Research and Practice

The goal of the Guitars, Robotics, and Rocketry Advanced Technological Education (GRRATE) project was to increase the number of rural STEM technicians in the form of self-efficacy building experiences with awareness of STEM technician career options available to them. The project team anticipated th…

This study aims to describe the role of dual education in improving students’ academic achievement and mitigating youth unemployment in Kazakhstan. To examine this issue, a survey was conducted among 496 students from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. The survey re…

The purpose of this study was to investigate how foundational elements of Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and goal orientation could be extended to determine if there were significant differences between career and technical (CTE) and traditional associate…

This qualitative study explored the views of community college employers, faculty, administrators, and students on the importance of foundational skills, including literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs of study. Participants (N …

The purpose of this study was to shed light on the role of self-efficacy in enhancing the classroom participation of students at Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges in an attempt to improve performance in general. The context of the study was TVET/Further Education and Training (FET) c…

The concept of new vocationalism reached its height in the 1990s and 2000s as views evolved regarding how community colleges should provide relevant vocational education for students. The concept of new vocationalism is here brought into the present moment by mapping theoretical lineages and emphasi…

Utilizing competency-based education (CBE) initiatives as a practice is gaining traction across higher education settings. With the onset and residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such initiatives are gaining additional encouragement. CBE has produced some positive outcomes in terms of higher e…

Using data from the 2014 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), we examined traditional and nontraditional students’ perceived preparation for job skills in terms of the three ways of knowing from a career capital perspective. Results showed that traditional and nontraditional stude…

Opportunity youth (OY; i.e., youth ages 16–24 who are neither working nor in school) are a population who is difficult to engage and retain in educational programs, particularly in community college career and technical education (CTE) programs. OY are an important population to community colleges, …

Over its 100-year plus history the community college has struggled to make clear its mission. As a comprehensive community college its mission has bounced around to focus on liberal arts, developmental, workforce, community, and general education. In today’s increasingly competitive society with shi…

In this National Science Foundation Advanced Technician Education program (NSF ATE) project, we aimed to explore factors that would strengthen the rural IT employee workforce and improve educational support related to broadband, telecommunications, and networks in rural settings. Using multiple meth…

Sub-baccalaureate degrees represent a growing and distinctive sector of American higher education. However, policymakers and community colleges lack a clear understanding of the specific competencies learned in these programs that are useful in graduates’ careers. In particular, they overlook non-ac…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether student outcomes are a function of participation in different modes of delivery and student age in an Opticianry program at the community college level. The three instructional delivery methods were traditional face-to-face instruction, online deliv…

Aligning vocational curricula with the labor market needs is a common reported challenge in developing countries. Little is known, however, about how vocational community colleges in such contexts regularly review and redesign their curricula to ensure the quality and relevance of their programs. Fr…

Student or program deficiencies are the classic explanation for student departure from community college partners of career technical education programs. However, a complex set of factors impact college attendance, persistence, and departure decision-making. Participants’ experiences both within and…

The Maine Technical College System (MTCS) has a 50 – year history of preparing skilled workers for an occupationally diverse and geographically dispersed region. Established as a vocational training institute under the “GI Bill” to help returning servicemen, the System now includes seven colleges an…

Student affairs professionals at 7 Wyoming community colleges and at 3 outreach campuses were interviewed regarding the career guidance and development functions at their institutions. This inventory was performed for the Wyoming School‐to‐Work Management Team to be used in the development of the st…

Cooperative apprenticeships are a form of structured workplace training in which (a) employers, government agencies, labor unions, or other community or groups join with community‐technical colleges to provide formal educational programs in which structured work‐based experiences are integral credit…

The quality of instruction provided through the post‐secondary technical institutes reflects the capabilities of the instructors. It would be ideal ifinstructors were trained through traditional teacher education programs. However, instructors inpost‐secon‐dary technical education generally have few…