This chapter examines institutionally funded free community college programs that address specific community workforce needs. Within the article, the authors showcase "Rediscover LCCC," a foundation-funded scholarship program at Laramie County Community College in Wyoming that pays students' tuition and fees for up to three years in…

The bachelor's degree remains a fundamental path to economic opportunity in the United States. Critical for policymakers, then, is ensuring equitable access to such benefits--a task often constrained by long-standing structural barriers. One of the most obvious structural impediments for bachelor's degree-aspirants in California (CA) is the…

Getting a head start on college coursework in high school has become an even more important goal for high school students in recent years, due in part to the rising costs of obtaining traditional four-year college degrees coupled with the disruptions in learning for high school and college students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever,…

Supporting adult learners as they complete their postsecondary certificates and degrees is essential to meeting the state's educational attainment goals and the employment needs of students and Washington employers. Students come to college with skills and knowledge acquired through work, military, and other experiences. Awarding academic credit…

A baccalaureate education was once limited to an elite population of high school graduates in pursuit of guaranteed career success. Today, more than 70% of high school graduates opt to attend college to earn a baccalaureate degree, due to economic, global, and technological changes. While this percent has significantly risen, employers are…

Provides an annotated bibliography of materials from the ERIC system highlighting the role of community colleges in school-to-work (STW) initiatives. Focuses on general information on STW, STW program descriptions, tech prep programs, and program effectiveness. (AJL)

Discusses the problems of mistraining, over-education, and underemployment, and argues that vocational students should have on-the-job training before completing formal education requirements. Describes an internship program in which selected Ventura College (California) data processing students worked 20 hours per week with area managers who were…

This paper underscores the need for entrepreneurship education in Canada's community colleges and presents a description of Confederation College's (CC's) entrepreneurial curriculum. A history of the growth of entrepreneurial businesses in Canada is followed by a discussion of the need for entrepreneurial education at the community college level.…

Defines youth and adult apprenticeships as key elements in school-to-work transition. Describes key characteristics of apprenticeship programs and the nature of exemplary programs, including a table of characteristics of 12 model programs. Discusses current changes in such programs to meet employer and student needs. Offers suggestions for…

Emphasizing the central role of community colleges in workforce development, this two-part monograph reviews the status of workforce development initiatives at the national, state, and local levels and provides descriptions of 10 exemplary programs at community colleges across North America. The first part focuses on the status of and operating…

The measured results of one community college's experience with cooperative education suggest that incorporating productive work experience into classroom-based curricula can achieve excellence and equality of opportunity, offering opportunities for disadvantaged students without compromising academic integrity. (MSE)

Provides a rationale for integrating general education in vocational studies. Offers examples of institutions with such integrated programs, and suggests strategies for curricular change. (DMM)

Over the last six years, corporation-community college partnerships have played an increasingly important role in educational and industrial growth. The automotive industry has been at the forefront of this trend and has recognized the contributions that community colleges can make in meeting the educational needs of industry. One example is the…

Describes the need for schools to develop partnerships with businesses and presents five model projects designed to stay ahead of the job market and create new jobs. Provides follow-up data on two of the models. Lists common elements of successful programs and provides tips on developing partnerships. (AJL)

Discusses the development of the South Carolina Technical College System in the 1960s to help draw industry to the state. Describes the System's Innovative Technical Training initiative to infuse high technology into curricula, the Access and Equity Program, tech prep and school-to-work initiatives, and distance learning. (10 citations) (AJL)