A descriptive study was conducted to identify and define different types of short-term vocational education training programs in community colleges and to report on the benefits of the selected short-term programs as compared to the long-term offerings at the respective community colleges. Because this is an unresearched area, this phase I study is not a hypothesis testing study, but a descriptive one intended to generate hypotheses. In addition to a literature review, programs offered in trade and industrial subjects in the Eugene and Portland, Oregon, areas were studied by on-site reviewing of selected training projects at five community colleges and by interviewing a number of providers and users of short-term and long-term vocational education programs. Types of short-term programs found included entry-level courses, occupational preparatory programs, and upgrading programs. Long-term programs included one- and two-year certificate programs, and two-year diploma or associate degree programs. The study concluded the following: first, that both short-term and long-term training programs are meeting crucial needs of trade and industry in different areas; second, that short-term training programs are underdeveloped and underutilized; third, there is a strong need for refining existing guidelines and developing new guidelines which would identify effective models of short-term training programs; finally, there is no clear, concrete model which incorporates both aspects of short-term and long-term training programs. It was recommended that a phase II study be conducted to develop short-term training program guidelines, identify the short-term training needs of trade and industry, develop a practical model of short-term training, and explore incorporating aspects of short-term programs into more traditional long-term programs. (KC)