A Dual Enrollment Partnership to Support the Manufacturing Sector in Connecticut: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The Hamden Engineering Career Academy (HECA) is a unique dual enrollment initiative designed to address the shortage of skilled human capital in the manufacturing sector across Connecticut. This study examines the effectiveness of HECA in promoting active employment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers, with a specific focus on Technology-Based Manufacturing (TBM). Through HECA, high school students have the opportunity to pursue an associate of science degree in manufacturing engineering technology while concurrently meeting their high school curriculum and diploma requirements. The research analyzed demographic and academic data, including age, race, gender, grade-point-average (GPA), credits earned, and degree progress to compare HECA students with those in the post high school manufacturing program at Gateway Community College identified as non-HECA. Furthermore, the study investigates students' attitudes toward STEM subjects and their interest in pursuing careers in TBM and other STEM fields. The findings indicate that HECA students demonstrated higher GPAs, earned more credits towards their degree, and had a higher degree progress to graduation compared to non-HECA students. Additionally, the research suggests that while both groups share similar attitudes toward STEM subjects, there are differences in their interest in specific STEM-related careers. HECA proves to be a promising model for fostering workforce readiness and preparing students for successful careers, however, there is room for improvement. While HECA excels at fostering academic excellence among students, there appears to be a disconnect as these students are not seamlessly transitioning into the workforce.