Exploring student experiences: examination of community college career and technical programs

Abstract

Career and technical education was once essential in an attempt to educate people for their respective careers. While the premises for a career and technical education remains career oriented, these programs have come under attack in the past several years, especially, the career and technical degree programs offered at community colleges. The opponents of community college career and technical degree programs argue that these programs are too narrow in scope and that they do not provide students a broad, general education. The opponents also argue that the career and technical degree programs offered at community colleges are contributing to the class segregation in America. The purpose of this study is to explore student and alumni experiences as they relate to the efficacy of career and technical education degree programs at different community colleges. The literature indicates that while higher education, in general, provides the best return for society, career and technical education contributes significantly to that return. This study indicates that the idea that a career and technical education does not develop the whole student appears to be false. Community colleges seem to put graduates in charge of their future. Based on the findings of this research study, it has been determined that additional research will be necessary to examine career and technical education at four-year technical colleges and to study the effect of a career and technical education in society.--Author's abstract