This session examines student experiences in noncredit postsecondary workforce education through qualitative and mixed-methods research conducted at Santa Fe Community College. Using case study findings, the session highlights structural inequities between noncredit and for-credit systems, including access to resources, data visibility, funding, and pathways to credit. The presentation connects workforce education, CTE policy, and student outcomes to broader questions of equity, labor market alignment, and postsecondary attainment.
The session will benefit CTE leaders, workforce development professionals, dual credit and early college administrators, community college faculty, institutional researchers, policymakers, and staff working in noncredit, continuing education, or short-term credential programs—particularly those serving adult learners, rural students, and communities impacted by poverty. Consideration will be given to current emphasis of state and federal funding focused on short-term and accelerated workforce training programs and the impact they are having when considering noncredit postsecondary courses within current for-credit infrastructure.
Attendees will gain research-informed insights to assess how noncredit workforce education is structured within their own institutions and identify barriers related to student identity, data systems, funding, and pathway design. The session offers concrete considerations for aligning noncredit programs with credit-bearing pathways, improving institutional equity, and informing program redesign, grant development, and policy advocacy.
The Poster Session will:
- Showcase our student case-study findings, what changes New Mexico is making, and insights to how students are using both noncredit and for-credit early college education to achieve their career goals.
Participants will receive via USB if they desire:
- A slide deck summarizing key findings, data points, and policy implications
- Discussion prompts and reflection questions for use in professional learning or institutional planning
- Access to the short documentary film where students share their experiences in noncredit postsecondary education and how they self-designed their pathways using noncredit and for-credit college courses.
- A summary handout outlining programmatic considerations for strengthening noncredit-to-credit workforce pathways
