I focus on increasing access to self-sustaining careers through workforce development that occurs in community and technical colleges and community-based workforce development providers. Thus far, I have primarily focused on the online delivery of such programs.
Work-related training occurs in employment settings, public and private educational institutions, and community-based settings. The current economic crisis has illustrated that our nation must work to build a solid infrastructure that supports middle-skill jobs in order to preserve the middle class, support U.S. exporters, and provide diversification beyond the service and financial sectors. Middle-skilled workers need specific work-related training that delivers broad goals like critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities, while providing context-specific technical abilities.
I seek to help workforce development providers understand how to increase the accessibility of programs that provide needed skills for entry/reentry into sustainable jobs.
Journal Articles
Githens, R. P., Sauer, T. M., Crawford, F., Cumberland, D. M., & Wilson, K. B. (2014). Online workforce development in community colleges: Connection with community, institutional, and governance factors. Community College Review, 42(4), 283-306. PDF File.
Githens, R. P., Sauer, T. M., Crawford, F., & Wilson, K. B. (2012). Online occupational education in community colleges: Prevalence, programming, and connection with workforce development needs. Journal of Career and Technical Education Research, 37(1), 35-56. PDF File
Ghosh, R. & Githens, R. P. (2011). Online contract training: Applying organization theory to reconcile competing missions within community colleges. Human Resource Development Review, 10(2), 180-197. PDF File
Githens, R. P. & Sauer, T. M. (2010). Going green online: Distance learning prepares students for success in green-collar job markets. Community College Journal, 80(6), 30-33. PDF File
Monographs
Githens, R. P., Crawford, F., & Sauer, T. M. (2010). Online occupational education in community colleges: Prevalence and contextual factors. Louisville, KY: National Research Center for Career and Technical Education. PDF File
Selected Conference Papers
Githens, R. P., Crawford, F., & Sauer, T. M. (2010, May). Online occupational education in community colleges: Prevalence and contextual factors. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. PDF File
Ghosh, R., & Githens, R. P. (2010). Online contract training: Applying organization theory to reconcile competing missions within community colleges. In C. M. Graham (Ed.), Academy of Human Resource Development Conference Proceedings (pp. 1594-1615). St. Paul, MN: AHRD. PDF File
