September 14, 2021

This session will provide a holistic view of how to align workforce needs of students, community college programs, and employers, drawing on data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. We begin with a brief discussion of young adult attitudes and expectations for training opportunity and success, and their perceptions of local labor market opportunities, highlighting survey data collected in 2020-2021. We then present findings from a study of community college offerings and labor market alignment, providing data-driven insights into noncredit program coherence and quality, noncredit program alignment with credit programs, and how well students are prepared from employer hiring expectations. Administrators and educators at community college institutions designing or reforming career pathways will learn how to make meaningful improvements. We discuss strategies to strengthen programs’ labor market alignment based on information leveraging community college program offerings and interview data from school staff and local employer partners.

Introduction: Rufus Glasper, Ph.D., President and CEO, League for Innovation in the Community College

Presenters: Sara Haviland, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Educational Testing Service; Steve Robbins, Ph.D., Principal Research Scientist, Center for Education and Career Development, Educational Testing Service; Vanesa Morest, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs, Westchester Community College