Manufacturers in the United States are struggling to recruit and hire high-skilled workers needed to maintain productivity and to compete globally. While the total number employed in the manufacturing sector is shrinking, the demand for high-skilled workers has increased. Community and technical colleges have traditionally been an important source…

Neither vocational education programs nor the presence of nontraditional students had any significant impact on students' attitudes toward sex roles in the work world, according to a study of 1215 students in vocational programs at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical Institute (WITI) at Rice Lake. Most of the 840 male and 375 female students surveyed…

Personal interviews with each employer of health care workers in the Nicolet Vocational, Technical and Adult Education (VTAE) District were conducted to determine: (1) the extent of need for trained health occupations personnel in the district; (2) the projected need for such personnel in the future; (3) which specific health occupations currently…

THE SECRETARIAL SCIENCE PROGRAM OF MANITOWOC TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IS DESCRIBED TO ASSIST AN EVALUATION TEAM IN THEIR STUDY OF THE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION-ACCOUNTING MAJOR PROGRAM OF THE SCHOOL. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE 2-YEAR POST-HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM ARE TO -- (1) PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE SECRETARIAL…

Responses from 532 of 1,500 female technical college students in traditional training (280), nontraditional training (149), or gender-balanced (99) programs. Nontraditionals rated themselves higher on vocational self-efficacy, perceived opportunities, social support, and confidence. (SK)

An instructor in the Horticulture Department of the Milwaukee Area Technical College describes their work experience program which simulates closely the occupational conditions of the horticulture industry. The new campus gives students practice in landscape skills and an internship program places students with suitable employers. (MF)

The Wisconsin Technical College System Board Phase V Equity Staff Development project continued staff development efforts to eliminate bias and stereotyping in vocational education. Based upon evaluations indicating a need for a postsecondary equity training model, five technical college equity representatives attended two planning sessions to…

A study was conducted to assess the relationship of competencies taught in the Wisconsin Vocational-Technical and Adult Education system Data Processing (DP) Diploma Programs to required on-the-job skills. DP graduates, their employers, and instructors were surveyed in order to obtain a comparative evaluation of the program, and a sample of…

The Joint Task Force on Implementing Occupational Options in Wisconsin undertook a 6-month study to identify issues related to occupational preparation, including the state's proposed tech prep and apprenticeship programs, successful policies and practices of tech prep and apprenticeship models to be modified to meet the state's needs, and…

A study was conducted to assess the relationship between data processing competencies taught in Wisconsin Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education District Data Processing programs and on-the-job demands, as a basis for curriculum review and revision. A sample of program graduates, their employers, and instructors were asked to rate 75…

A study analyzed attitudinal and demographic factors that influence women's choices of traditional and nontraditional training programs. A career choice survey was constructed, based on results of responses by four focus groups to questions regarding training program selection. The survey was completed by 532 women students in 15 technical…

The organizational and working relationships between postsecondary education and economic development in selected states were investigated, with emphasis on identifying state-level coordinated programs in 12 geographically diverse states known to be active in linking education to economic development (Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana,…

A study assessed the needs of Wisconsin single parents, homemakers, and displaced homemakers and identified barriers they encounter in obtaining education, training, and employment. A total of 770 new participants from 15 vocational/technical colleges responded to the written survey; 335 responded to the program completers' survey; 15 lead staff…

This report describes phase VI of the Equity Staff Development project, an ongoing project to achieve equity and diversity at Wisconsin technical colleges by creating an institutional climate supporting achievement by all students. Among the project's major activities and outcomes are the following: the existing train-the-trainer format of peer…

The Phase II Equity Staff Development project was revised in response to a need to develop an equity strategic planning model with a vision statement, goals, and objectives. The Equity Strategic Planning Model was presented to administrators of Wisconsin Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education (VTAE) colleges for their use in district strategic…