This project focuses on consultation, technical assistance and applied research, especially in the area of implementation of "programs of study" as called for in the new federal law. Specifically, Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) personnel are working collaboratively with the state’s Perkins Planning to conceptualize programs of study associated with the sixteen career clusters specified by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, US Department of Education. Through consultation with OCCRL, the Illinois Community College Board and Illinois State Board of Education have partnered to develop sample programs of study.

Formative evaluation is a common practice to identify the strengths and weaknesses of design-based projects. The outcome of formative evaluations is solely intended to inform the improvement of the target project. In the case of goodWORKSconnect as an online information portal, the finding of the formative evaluation serves two purposes. The first purpose is to inform its next generation design to ensure optimal usability, connectivity, and interactivity. The second purpose is to guide the strategic planning for the goodWORKSconnect portal in order to energize the non-profit community it serves with scalability and sustainability.