Abstract
The Problem. Company-specific occupational training in which community colleges provide training designed to meet industry needs and which is paid for by the companies is of growing interest to community colleges. Industry has been providing such training for its employees for years. This study: (1) Determined the barriers to company-specific occupational training in California Community Colleges, and (2) Developed consensus among key policy-makers in California concerning recommendations as to how community colleges can remove the barriers. Research Methodology. This study developed a questionnaire regarding 25 major barriers to company-specific occupational training. This was sent to 107 community college deans and 318 industry training officers. The data returned from 94% of the college respondents and 33% of the industry respondents were treated with an analysis of frequency distribution and a t-test was employed to determine the significance of difference of the mean scores between the two respondent groups. The barriers were ranked in priority by mean score and a modified delphi team of key policy-makers in vocational education reached consensus on major recommendations and/or possible state policies to reduce or remove the barriers. Findings. (1) Resolution of most existing barriers to company-specific occupational training can and should be resolved at the local level without state intervention or state policy. (2) Most of the barriers which exist can best be resolved through regional mechanisms by addressing equipment needs and staffing and territorial issues. (3) The involvement of community colleges in company-specific occupational training is too new for many of the colleges to have encountered the barriers. (4) Many of the barriers for company-specific occupational training already apply to existing vocational education programs of the colleges. Conclusions and Recommendations. (1) Community colleges should enter into consortia or other regional mechanisms for the purpose of solving problems related to company-specific occupational training. (2) Company-specific occupational training should be self-supporting when the purpose and design of the training benefits only the company seeking the program. (3) In company-specific occupational training programs in which the student could apply the training toward a certificate or associate of arts degree, the programs offer credit even if the class is fully paid for by industry and not open to non-employee students. (4) State apportionment should be available for company-specific occupational training in order to best meet the needs of those small businesses which could not afford to finance the programs.