A Longitudinal Study of the Adult GED/HSED Career Pathways and College Transition Program at Fox Valley Technical College

Abstract

This longitudinal mixed methods study analyzed disaggregated data by gender and ethnicity among students participating in the Hub career and college pathways Adult Education (AE) program at Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) from fall of 2017 to spring of 2022. The study analyzed gender and ethnicity characteristics of Hub students compared to the gender and ethnicity of the institution. Further, the study analyzed success rates disaggregated by gender and ethnicity of high school equivalency completion and completion of college classes. Finally, the study provided qualitative analysis of barriers experienced by Hub students and identified themes of those barriers. This study found differences in the population served in the Hub program when compared to the institution and differences in success rates by gender and ethnicity. The Hub program served an inversely proportional number of females and males compared to the institution and served a smaller percentage of White students and larger percentage of Black and Latinx students than the college. Female and male students completed a high school equivalency at the same rate while female students had a higher success rate in college classes than males. White students completed a high school equivalency at a higher rate than any other ethnicity. Latinx students completed college classes at a higher rate than any other ethnicity and Black students had a lower college class success rate than any other ethnicity. Themes identified as barriers to success were basic needs, childcare, employment, communication, technology, health, and finances.