Evaluation of the Newark Area Industry Linked-Information Technology Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant at Essex County College
Evaluation of information technology programs at Essex County College.
The Heldrich Center evaluated Essex County College’s implementation information technology programs in the areas of cybersecurity, health information technology, and software development under a Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The program involved a partnership with several organizations, including Jobs for the Future, Wider Opportunities for Women, Social Solutions, IQ4, and the Newark Alliance to create credit-bearing courses to facilitate the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for information technology credentials and development of a database and program to match student skills with employer internship needs. The center, for the period 2013 to 2017, examined the implementation of the program, including reviewing the program progress relative to curriculum development, student assessment, and partnership roles and contributions. The center tracked the progress of the students in those programs, conducted an analysis of the program processes, and calculated employment outcomes for students. To document student outcomes, the Heldrich Center calculated graduation rates and used administrative data and wage records to calculate key labor market outcomes, including the entered employment rate, average earnings, and the retention rate.