Noncredit workforce education is a large and growing component of community colleges’ program offerings. These programs are noted for their important role in responding to shifting workforce demands and providing skills in a way that is flexible and responsive to employer needs. The growth in community college noncredit workforce education raises fundamental questions about the extent to which colleges are keeping pace with student and workforce needs, using resources efficiently, and providing access to all students. The answers may challenge current state policies and college practices.

The study focuses on community college noncredit workforce instruction and contract training. Specifically, the study examines a set of questions pertaining to the following: (1) the extent to which noncredit workforce education and state policies play a role in workforce development, provide disadvantaged groups with access to higher education, and generate revenue for the college; (2) the way that colleges organize their noncredit workforce education programs to balance the tradeoffs between the desired flexibility of noncredit education and the integration of noncredit education with credit programs; and (3) the extent to which noncredit workforce education provides students with recorded outcomes, such as transcripts or industry certifications, and data are available on the outcomes of noncredit workforce education. The study draws on two key data sources: a review of state policies on the funding and regulation of noncredit workforce education in all 50 states, and case studies of 20 community colleges in 10 states.

Noncredit workforce education can play an important role in responding to local labor market demands by meeting the workforce needs of employers and the needs of students for immediate skills. It can also benefit students in other ways by providing access to credit programs; generating meaningful recorded outcomes for a range of student needs; and facilitating the long-term pursuit of degrees. Community college noncredit workforce education can have a central role in states that choose to prioritize funding to support career pathways as part of their workforce development agenda by connecting short-term training to programs leading to degrees and credentials. The final report discusses findings from the study and offers several key recommendations for community college noncredit workforce education.

The project is funded by the Sloan Foundation and is being carried out by CCRC in collaboration with the National Council on Workforce Education (NCWE) and the National Council on Continuing Education and Training (NCCET).