Beyond Transfer
Community colleges in states such as Ohio are rapidly expanding occupational certificate programs that provide training in growing fields such as health care, advanced manufacturing and information technology. States, collectively, are investing more than $500 million in such certificate programs through funding to institutions and students. And this year, the federal government committed to major investments in certificate programs through the Workforce Pell program.
Given these large federal, state and local investments, community colleges must ensure that these credentials have value. Workforce Pell sets high standards for completion rates, employment outcomes and average earnings for programs to remain eligible. Many states also tie funding to certificates in high-demand fields. Yet the evidence so far suggests the income gains for certificate holders are modest and fade over time. The earning gains for certificates are also concentrated in certain fields (e.g., health, engineering technology), while other certificates don’t provide value in terms of employment outcomes.
So how do community colleges build certificate programs that maximize the value for individuals and the region’s workforce? Lorain County Community College has been working on what it calls “Fast Track” programs since 2018 and has spent years refining the model. There are currently 14 Fast Track programs across five sectors at the college.
With funding from the Lumina Foundation, we spent the past year learning about the Fast Track model, and early next year we will publish a report on the findings. Fast Track programs have five key features, each supported by evidence, that add up to a promising approach that other community colleges should consider replicating.
- Fast Track certificate programs align with high-demand fields and are valued by employers. LCCC looks to labor market information and relies on close relationships with employers to identify high-demand jobs and vet certificate programs before they are developed. Since 2023, Ohio has directed state funding only to high-demand credentials, and LCCC now limits its Fast Track programs to credentials on the state-designated list.
- Fast Track certificate programs are always available and can be finished quickly. Fast Track programs are designed as occupational on-ramps for low-income students and adult learners who also may have job and family responsibilities. These individuals are often looking to finish training and move into their new field as quickly as possible. To meet these needs, Fast Track programs are offered continuously (i.e., every semester) and can be completed within a single 16-week term.
- Fast Track certificate programs are free to students. When certificate programs are free, they are more accessible to low-income individuals who need them most. LCCC leverages Ohio’s state financial aid for certificates and other funding sources to cover student costs. Fast Track students must complete a financial aid application, but according to program staff, this has not been a major burden.
- Fast Track certificate programs are taken for college credit and are stackable. Federal and state initiatives (including Workforce Pell) have called for certificate programs to be stackable, which means that the college credits earned for the certificate also count toward another certificate or an applied associate degree. Indeed, research shows that individuals who stack additional credentials on top of certificates see improved employment outcomes. Most of LCCC’s Fast Track programs are fully stackable. In the few cases where they aren’t, such as nursing, the college ensures that certificate completion offers students a leg up if they choose to pursue the longer-term program. To encourage Fast Track students to re-enroll after getting a certificate, LCCC offers a $500 grant. LCCC also requires that all Fast Track programs be offered (and taken) for college credit. The research shows that few students with noncredit training end up enrolling in colleges and earning degrees. Students with credit-bearing certificates face fewer hurdles to re-enrollment and can more easily stack credentials.
- Fast Track certificate programs offer proactive advising and job-placement support. Research shows that proactive advising can be essential to supporting college completion. It’s no different for certificates. LCCC’s Fast Track programs have dedicated advisers who connect enrolled students to the college’s range of wraparound services, such as tutoring and the food pantry, and provide students with information on opportunities to continue their college education. Job-placement support is a newer feature and aims to smooth students’ transitions into the workforce by providing direct pipelines for graduates to employers and jobs in the region.
Low-income individuals and adult learners who go to their community colleges for training need clear pathways to good jobs and opportunities to earn high-value credentials. LCCC’s Fast Track certificate programs offer a promising approach that community colleges might adopt to improve economic opportunities for these individuals.
