Online Occupational Education in Community Colleges: Prevalence, Programming, and Connection with Workforce Development Needs
This study examined the current state of online occupational
programs in community colleges and explored issues related to
institutional, economic, and social indicators that influence (a)
the offering of online programs and (b) the programmatic
connection to workforce development needs. The study is based on
a random sample of 321 institutions in the United States. This
project is the first national study categorizing online
occupational programs according to the Career Clusters and Career
Pathways classification scheme. Although research has shown that
most institutions offer online occupational courses, only 47.5%
of colleges in the sample offered credit-granting online
occupational programs. Additionally, despite research finding
that skill-based programs requiring manipulative skill
development can be successfully taught online, this study found
that few such programs exist. Finally, our research indicated
that occupational program development is not driven by statewide
economic indicators, such as the state’s fastest growing
occupations, suggesting a moderate responsiveness to states’
workforce development needs.
Githens, R. P., Sauer, T. M., Crawford, F. L., & Wilson, K. B.
(2012). Online occupational education in community colleges:
Prevalence, programming, and connection with workforce
development needs. Career and Technical Education
Research, 37(1), 35-56.