Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

Publication Title

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Volume

12

Issue

1

Pages

12 (1-29)

Abstract

Barriers to education and training can have a generational impact on socioeconomic status and economic development. Post-traditional students have been shown to experience a variety of barriers to education and family sustaining employment. Social capital has been shown to help alleviate some of the barriers for students resulting in stronger economic outcomes, such job retention, and higher wages.

The purpose of this case study was to determine if the Network2Work model at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) can affect outcomes for students from low socio-economic backgrounds by comparing Network2Work outcomes to non-Network2Work noncredit industry training outcomes. The research compared outcome metrics of the independent variable (Network2Work program) while controlling for potential intervening variables (employment, age, race, sex, and first-generation status) to examine the extent to which the Network2Work design contributes to credential attainment and employment. For this study, the term low-socioeconomic background included students who had low-income, working-class students earning less a family-sustaining wage, first-generation students, and students falling 200% below the federal poverty level.

Rights

© 2024 The Authors. All rights reserved.

"Authors or owners of copyright will retain copyright in the published articles."

ORCID

0000-0003-4653-3008 (Bullington), 0000-0002-7838-7490 (Williams), 0000-0002-9137-9014 (Ayers)

Original Publication Citation

Finley, C., Bullington, K. E., Williams, M., & Ayers, D. (2024). Networked to work?: An analysis of a community college workforce development program. Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development, 12(1), 1-29, Article 12. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/ojwed/vol12/iss1/12/

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