Recommendations

TAACCCT evaluation reports analyzed for this brief show that the grant incentivized career pathways designed to increase access to workforce training, and sometimes also college-level instruction, that provides entry to the labor force. These on-ramps are an important dimension of career pathways that extend to postsecondary education to confer college credit and credit-bearing credentials. For many adults in the U.S., these pathways are essential to finding employment that provides a sustaining wage. However, career pathways are incomplete if they do not provide options for students to continue on to additional college education credentials, including work experience that is recognized for college credit, that culminates with an associate or bachelor’s (or higher) degree.

The deep-seated inequities revealed by COVID-19 are troubling for America. Much remains uncertain, but what is increasingly clear is that workers with college credentials, especially bachelor’s degrees, are more likely to retain jobs and be called back to work. Only 15 percent of bachelor’s degree holders are unemployed compared to 25 percent of individuals with a high school diploma, and 21 percent with some college. Bachelor’s holders are twice as likely as those with less education to be called back to work.¹ The detrimental impact of COVID-19 is skewed toward less-educated, lower-income minority groups and females who work in service-sector jobs. These groups have an uncertain future until recovery begins in 2021. Career pathways that provide progression to college credit and credential attainment are more important than ever.

Enhance career pathway progression.

Career pathways need to enable students to progress beyond entry-level employment. Facilitating pathway entry is important but insufficient for upward mobility in college, employment, and earnings. Strategies like creating accessible course schedules and credit for prior learning policies are needed to help students continue to move along the pathway toward associate and baccalaureate degree attainment.

Invest in capacity building.

Many community colleges operate with modest budgets that make new investments in programs and services challenging, which sometimes results in widening inequities among lower-income and racially minoritized groups and more privileged student populations. Following the lead of TAACCCT, public investments need to build capacity in community colleges, as well as the systems that support them, in order for meaningful change to be made and sustained over time.

Disseminate strategies that demonstrate equitable outcomes.

Evaluation of TAACCCT went farther in assessing the impact of community college reforms than any other in history. Lessons from TAACCCT have informed policy and practice in important ways, and the program has provided a blueprint for future evaluations. Assessing the overall impact of public policy is vitally important, as is determining whether target participants obtain outcomes for which those investments were made.

Focus on organizational and cultural change.

Efforts directed at growing career pathways require advocating for the recruitment, enrollment, and credentialing of students underserved by postsecondary education. Organizational and cultural change must occur to meet student needs. Community colleges must commit to widening student access to education that leads to employment and careers.

Network and form partnerships.

Community colleges that embrace networking, the formation of partnerships, and the teamwork that makes partnerships work, are best positioned to engage in the creation and support of career pathways for students. Community colleges and other higher education institutions, workforce agencies, employers, and other community-based organizations working together is essential to making progression a viable dimension of career pathways.

Invest in leadership and learning.

The more community college educators recognize that real change requires leadership and ongoing learning to make a difference, the more innovation and change will happen. Community colleges that value, promote, and reward career pathways are well positioned to model for other postsecondary education and workforce entities how to succeed.