Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – South Texas College is the only college in Texas to be selected to join a national research initiative aimed at elevating the voices of students enrolled in noncredit workforce programs, while positioning the college as a key contributor in shaping the future of workforce education across the country.
The initiative, called Student Voices Informing Practice in Noncredit Workforce Education, is led by the Education and Employment Research Center (EERC) at Rutgers University and the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE).
Announced this spring, the effort brings together 15 community colleges nationwide to better understand the experiences, challenges and goals of noncredit students while strengthening programs, services and policies that support them.
“Alongside EERC, NCWE is excited to be partnering with STC and 14 colleges from across the country to elevate the insights of noncredit workforce students and college staff and faculty,” said Kate Kinder, executive director of NCWE. “STC has long been an important member of NCWE, with a demonstrated commitment to expanding college and career pathways for their students and community.”
Kinder added that the collaboration will allow participating colleges to share and implement effective strategies that support learners and meet workforce demands.
“Through this new initiative, STC will be able to share and bring back effective strategies and practices that can support learners, boost outcomes and meet the needs of local employers to drive economic prosperity in the region,” she said. “We are honored to have STC as a partner in this work.”
STC coordinators for the initiative say it represents recognition and opportunity for local students by giving the college a voice on a national platform.
“For STC, this is really important because we get to be part of a group that not only helps define what noncredit workforce education is right now through research, but also helps shape what it might become,” said Maricela Oliva, Ph.D., manager for Access and Advocacy with STC’s Office of Sponsored Initiatives and project lead for the research initiative with EERC and NCWE.
Noncredit workforce programs typically serve students seeking to build or enhance job skills without pursuing a traditional degree.
STC Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, Olivia De La Rosa says these students may choose to enroll and learn a new trade, improve existing skills, earn a GED diploma or develop language proficiency.
“These are students who are coming in to learn a skill or upgrade their skills,” De La Rosa said. “They are not enrolled in a degree program, but they are still working toward improving their lives.”
Through the initiative, researchers will work directly with participating colleges to gather student feedback through surveys and interviews, gaining insight into what drives enrollment decisions, what supports student success and what barriers may exist. Those findings will contribute to a broader national analysis of noncredit workforce education.
Oliva said the opportunity allows STC to both learn from peer institutions and contribute its own perspective as a Hispanic-Serving Institution where more than 95% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino.
“Our students bring unique experiences and perspectives,” De La Rosa said. “It’s important that institutions like ours are represented so that the national conversation reflects the diversity of students in these programs.”
As part of the initiative, STC has formed an internal “community of practice” comprised of faculty and staff across departments connected to workforce education. Participants will collaborate with peers at other colleges, sharing strategies and exploring ways to improve student outcomes.
The initiative will also include a national convening in the fall, where representatives from all 15 colleges will meet to exchange ideas and strengthen partnerships.
Through its participation, STC aims to help shape policies and practices that better serve noncredit students nationwide while continuing to strengthen workforce pathways in South Texas.
“There’s a perception about our region,” De La Rosa said. “But our students are just like any others. They want to succeed, improve their lives and build a future.”
