NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
PROCESS AND TOPIC IDENTIFICATION SECTION II
Following these meetings, a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment Procedure Manual for internal NCTC usage was developed to access the data and findings. These findings informed the scope and focus of the QEP by highlighting skill development needs and implementation practices. Meeting participants emphasized that written and verbal communication were not of the quality needed to represent their company or industry, and candidates often did not demonstrate this skill during the job interview stage and were not hired. Participant feedback showed that demonstration and modeling of quality communication, customer service, and professional work ethic are critical points needed by technical student graduates to enter their chosen careers. Stakeholders stated, “students are not receiving employability skills training early enough and throughout their time at NCTC. Career Services are not reaching Career and Technical Education students early and often enough to develop quality employment-ready skills that could help students as they work toward program completion and full-time entry into the local workforce.” The soft skill emphasis was not as robust as most NCTC Career and Technical Education students’ technical skills.
NCTC’s QEP is a product of systematic and regular assessment and the strategic planning process. At the time of its development, the college was also in the process of finalizing the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. NCTC 2020-2025 Strategic Plan’s overall theme focuses on improving students’ engagement and achievement through curricular and co-curricular methods leading to equitable opportunities for success and positive and impactful change. Aspire to the Hired helps to fulfill an important part of the college’s mission and values.
History and Demographics
In Fall 2019, a Local Trends and Gaps Analysis was conducted throughout the NCTC service area to include Cooke, Denton, Montague, and Young Counties through a partnership with Hanover Research. The survey provided an analysis of relevant student and labor market data with the primary goal to help NCTC establish the community’s needs and understand where its programs are meeting labor market needs as well as what gaps exist. A secondary goal of this report was to provide an initial analysis of the college’s retention data and post graduation performance among students who have been flagged as at-risk due to academic or socioeconomic factors.
According to the survey results from community stakeholders (primarily employers, workforce agencies, and community-organization representatives participating in the survey), the top soft skills/employability skills that are needed for students were: communication; critical thinking; ability to learn/teachable/coachable; teamwork; and punctuality. Stakeholders repeatedly highlighted the need for graduate job-seekers to communicate effectively. Thirty-one of the 70 responders identified communication as the top soft skill needed to succeed in the workforce. The majority of the 70 responders identified communication in the top three needed soft skills. Producing teachable graduates correlates with communication skills as they need to be active listeners and communicate effectively with supervisors and colleagues to perform job tasks appropriately. Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment participants explained the need for graduate job-seekers to perform effectively on a team as a leader or participant and to utilize critical thinking and problem solving within their job duties. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of initiative and adaptability attributes, and an employee who utilizes critical thinking and problem solving skills. Professionalism was identified as essential due to poor customer service and work ethic in the current pool of employment candidates.
Analysis recommendations include information based on an assessment of workforce demand indicators for Cooke, Denton, Montague, and Young Counties and student success data. Major recommendations from the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment included: • Focus on an additional 18 high-priority occupations and one new occupational cluster for wholesale and retail trade. • Offer a core set of programs at all locations targeting universally sought-after professions, but tailor other offerings to county-specific needs. In October 2019, as a response to the Local Trends and Gaps Analysis provided by Hanover Research, NCTC conducted multiple Stakeholder Meetings by utilizing the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment model. The assessment asked, “How can North Central Texas College ensure effective collaboration occurs between community stakeholders to make sure students are receiving the necessary skills to be successful in the workforce?” Responses included enhancing communication between employers, establishing aligned education to career pathways for students, establishing effective work-based education experiences for students, and establishing seamless technical program alignment between school districts, community colleges, and universities to prepare students for multi-entry and exit points to careers. QEP REPORT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND TOPIC IDENTIFICATION
The Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment gives a clear picture of the local employer and community 4
