Equitable Access to Industry-Aligned IT Training and Certification
Submitted By: Jesus Rivas
San Diego Adult Education Regional Consortium
Website: https://sdcce.edu/job-training/information-technology
Type of Practice: Learner Transition
Program Area(s): CTE / Workforce Prep / Pre-apprenticeship
Region: San Diego - Imperial
Consortia Involved: San Diego Adult Education Regional Consortium
The Program of Practice
Despite the growing demand for skilled IT professionals in high-wage, high-demand careers, many adult learners—particularly those seeking career transitions or reskilling—face barriers to accessing industry-aligned training. These barriers include limited access to instructional technology, unaffordable certification preparation resources, and a lack of streamlined transition pathways to credit-bearing programs or employment. Retention rates and student transitions to higher education programs remain areas for improvement.
The Response
San Diego College of Continuing Education’s (SDCCE) Information Technology (IT) Program directly addresses these challenges by implementing a multifaceted strategy:
• Curriculum Alignment: Courses are mapped to industry certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+, using standardized materials across all instructors.
• Technology Access: The Netlab upgrade enables students to complete labs fully online without requiring software installation—removing a common barrier for students lacking robust computing infrastructure.
• Pathway to Degree Programs: SDCCE’s IT Program has aligned key courses with City College’s Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree curriculum, sharing assessments and instructional tools to enable smoother transitions.
• Retention Supports: Students are encouraged to meet with counselors before enrolling in advanced courses, and informational videos help students select appropriate entry points.
• Equity-Focused Partnerships: The program collaborates with CyberHire San Diego to offer students free career assistance, internships, and financial support for certifications.
• Professional Development and Innovation: Instructors participate in CompTIA Instructor Network and WASTC trainings, and new courses under AWS Academy (e.g., Cloud Security Foundations) are under development.
The Unique Features of the Program
• Barrier-Free Hands-On Labs: Students access fully online labs 24/7 using only a web browser—no costly or complex software installation required.
• Free and Discounted Certification Resources: Students receive access to no-cost instructional materials and discounted certification vouchers through AWS Academy and Cisco Networking Academy.
• Innovative Curriculum Development: The department is piloting a short-term certification bootcamp and developing a DevOps-focused program to stay ahead of industry trends.
• Diversity and Inclusion Strategy: The program intentionally designs its curriculum to be accessible for low-income, underrepresented students by removing economic and technological barriers to participation.
• Cybersecurity Competition Involvement: The program promotes student participation in regional and national competitions, offering real-world experience and recognition.
The Outcome
• Retention: After a drop to 60% in 2022–23, retention improved to 68% in 2023–24, with no disproportionate impact found across demographic groups.
• Transition Potential: While the transition to City College’s Cybersecurity program has yet to yield completions, the curriculum alignment and shared assessments establish a foundation for future articulation.
• Instructional Consistency: All instructors now use the same online curriculum for Network+ and Security+, ensuring a standardized student learning experience.
• Curriculum Relevance: The CCNA and other core courses were updated to reflect the latest industry objectives, and bootcamp-style certification prep was piloted in Summer 2024.