Increasing pressure on schools to continually increase levels of academic performance has caused valuable career/technical education programs to be sacrificed. These programs are important as they not only help keep students engaged in school, but train them for the workforce, at a time when the United States is facing a serious skilled-worker crisis. This study examined the perceptions of business professionals as advisory members and their role and motivation for participation on ROC/P advisory committees in San Joaquin County. It also examined ROC/P educator perceptions about business professionals' role and motivation for participation on ROC/P advisory committees. Responses of both groups were analyzed as they related to eight specific research questions. The study group consisted of 59 business partners and 39 ROC/P educators from various industry advisory groups. Each participant completed a 20 item survey especially designed for this study. Participants also responded to several demographic-type questions. The results of both groups were analyzed and compared. Although there was a tendency toward agreement on most of the survey items between the business professionals and educators' responses, the results showed that there is still a need for better understanding and communication between education and business. Advisory committees are a mechanism by which education and business can come together to address issues of mutual concern, such as modifying curriculum to meet industry needs. Business professionals are not in full agreement that their recommendations are truly incorporated into the curriculum. This study recommends that educators focus more on assisting business professionals in understanding their role as advisory committee members, to communicate more clearly regarding recommended curriculum changes, and to increase the opportunities for mutually beneficial sharing.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pacific.edu/oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-3507 |
| Date | 01 January 2006 |
| Creators | Goldie, Beverly J. |
| Publisher | Scholarly Commons |
| Source Sets | University of the Pacific |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations |
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