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ERIC Number: ED615656
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Aug
Pages: 18
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Program Growth and Graduate Employment Outcomes of Washington's Applied Baccalaureate Degrees. Research Report 17-4
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Washington's community and technical colleges (CTCs) play an important role in producing baccalaureate degree graduates in the state through the applied baccalaureate (AB) degree. The key policy goals of the AB degree in Washington state are to increase educational attainment for students and meet employer demand. Compared to the traditional university student population, community college students are more likely to be working adults with families, low-income, students of color, and place-bound to their geographic area. For many of these students, it is challenging to pursue a baccalaureate program without a four-year institution near home due to conflicting priorities of work and family. In this regard, having a baccalaureate degree program available at a local community college increases the educational attainment opportunity for students who might not be able to pursue one otherwise, thus supporting statewide goals of increased baccalaureate degree production. The AB degree also provides another educational step for students who have completed workforce-specific professional-technical certificates and associates degrees. Because they are designed to directly help students get jobs, professional-technical degree programs are also typically comprised of older, low-income, first generation, working adults and consequently fulfill a powerful role in increasing access to higher education for historically underserved populations at the community college level. The primary goal for each of these degrees is to match local employer needs with skilled workers to fill necessary gaps in the workforce. This study provides an annual update on program growth and completions and expands upon prior employment outcomes evaluations. It further investigates the role of prior work experience and industry change as a factor in earnings and job placement. Specifically, the following research questions are addressed: (1) What is the pattern of program growth? (2) What are the demographics of students in applied baccalaureate degree programs and how have they changed over time? (3) What are the degree completion outcomes for students by program? (4) What are the employment earnings outcomes for students following degree completion? Do the outcomes vary by program? and (5) For students who are employed prior to enrollment, do they return to the same industry following degree completion?
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. P.O. Box 42495, Olympia, WA 98504-2495. Tel: 360-704-4400; Fax: 360-704-4415; Web site: http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Identifiers - Location: Washington
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A