REACHING THE FINISH LINE: ADULT STUDENTS PERSPECTIVES ON CHALLENGES IN PERSISTING IN AN AVIATION CAREER TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

Abstract

Career technology education plays a significant role in training students for skilled trade jobs that support the local, state, and national economic workforce. Adult students have non-traditional challenges that can impact their ability to complete a program in which they enroll. Specifically, adult students enrolled in aviation programs have unique barriers and challenges that can affect their ability to persist. There are not enough students completing the aviation curriculum and becoming certified airframe and powerplant mechanics compared to the job openings for that career pathway. This qualitative, bounded case study examined the challenges experienced by adult students enrolled in an aviation career technology program so that educational institutions and career technology centers can understand what barriers adult students encounter while enrolled. The main research question for this study looked at the perspectives of adult students enrolled in an aviation career and technology education, as well as the institutional and personal challenges the students face in completion of the program. The methodology for this study utilized one-on-one interviews of adult students enrolled in an aviation program at an Oklahoma City Metropolitan area career technology center. Tinto's model of student retention was the framework used as the lens for data collection and analysis, along with understanding how student integration, institutional commitment, and support services impact student completion rates. Thematic analysis and coding were used to analyze the data obtained from the semi-structured interviews. The information obtained from this study can help career technology organizations change practices and guide strategic planning processes to increase adult student completion and retention rates. Keywords: Tinto’s model of student retention, career technology, aviation, persistence