Community College News

It would seem that in an economic environment where employers continue to report difficulty filling many skilled positions, they would have plenty of qualified prospects. However, employers are not finding applicants with the education and training necessary to move into many positions without extensive on-the-job training, something few employers can or want to afford. The result is a workforce in which many job seekers cannot secure available positions because they do not have the necessary preparation to transition into those jobs with ease. The really surprising part is that we are often talking about college graduates who are ill-equipped for many of the demands of today's professional world.

Training and the Economy

This concern was highlighted in the 2011 study conducted by Corporate Voices for Working Families and Civic Enterprises titled "Across the Great Divide." The study examined the relationship between the education students receive in college and the skills employers are looking for from college graduates. Although the report is more than a decade old, many of its findings continue to shape conversations about workforce development today.

The introduction to the study stated, "Many of those looking for work do not have the skills required by companies looking to hire, resulting in businesses seeking talent while many job seekers struggle to qualify." While today's labor market differs significantly from that of 2011, employers continue to emphasize the importance of aligning education with workforce needs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook

Most students heading to college are consumed with the adjustment to dorm life, the sometimes complex maze of the registration process and the cheapest place to purchase textbooks and supplies. However, recent events on campuses across the country, particularly the tragic massacre that occurred at Virginia Technical College just a few short years ago, have them considering the safety of their schools as well. In response to those concerns, some colleges are thinking about arming the security guards that currently patrol the campus. Others may allow students and faculty to carry their own firearms as a means of self-defense in the event of an attack. We will take a look at both issues, and why community colleges are taking such measures to protect their students and staff.

Armed Officers may be Coming to Illinois College

Illinois Valley Community College is just one of the community colleges across the country considering the option of arming security guards on campus. IVCC president Jerry Corcoran told the News Tribune that the upcoming retirement of current Safety Services Director Ken Sangston prompted the idea. Corcoran said, "We're seeing a trend among community colleges across the state where they have armed security. IVCC is like a small city…so if there's an opportunity to raise the bar for security we should explore it."

IVCC currently employs four full-time and six part-time security guards. At this time, all of them are unarmed. If they decide to arm some of their staff, the

For the past several years, enrollment at community colleges has grown at an astronomical rate, but that trend appears to be reversing somewhat. A recent report suggests that enrollment at community colleges is beginning to slow, but why? The conditions that led to the rapid increase in enrollment, the sluggish economy, and the high unemployment rate are still in effect. So what is the difference? As we explore this subject more deeply, the possible reasons for the enrollment slowdown may surprise you.

The Boom

According to a recent report announced on PR Newswire, the enrollment rate at community colleges has been on a steady incline for the past decade. Community colleges make up the largest post-secondary education sector, with nearly 44 percent of all undergraduates in this country. From 2008 to 2009, that increase hit a spike, with an 11 percent increase during that academic year alone. Between 2007 and 2009, the total increase in community college enrollment hit an all-time high of nearly 17 percent.

These percentages indicate that the total number of community college students on campuses across the country has increased by 1.4 million since 2007. It is no coincidence that this is the same year the recession officially began, and many adults lost their jobs. Today, the total number of credit-earning community college students is approximately 8.2 million. There are another five million non-credit students gracing campuses across the country.

This video reports on the

Community colleges have become a major focus of post-secondary education since President Obama made them one of his top focus areas over the first two years of his administration. Last year, the first national community college survey was conducted to determine what impact community colleges might have on adults and industries nationwide. The Pearson Foundation's data share insight into who attends community college today and some of the major challenges these institutions and their students face.

Who is Attending Community College?

One part of the survey looked at the types of students community colleges frequently see today, and the results were reported in the Washington Post. This information can help colleges determine the best courses, faculty, and schedules to accommodate their student body demographics. The Pearson Foundation study found:

• One-third of the student population at community colleges enrolled right after graduating from high school.
• One-third were returning to college from the workforce, presumably to get additional training for their current jobs or the education necessary to switch careers.
• One-third were taking community college courses for self-improvement or enjoyment purposes.
• Half the students surveyed were age 26 or older.
• About 60 percent were planning to transfer to a four-year university after completing their community college degree program (the actual transfer rates are much lower).

Most community college students are much older than those attending a four-year university. In addition, many community college students have already been in the workforce; many are married and have families. This changes the

During the current economic slowdown, more adults are heading back to community college to get the necessary retraining for more lucrative careers. High school graduates that cannot afford a four-year university right away are looking at community colleges as a less expensive route to the education they need. It sounds like community colleges are the perfect answer, right?

Unfortunately, community colleges are not the white knight that many struggling in a sluggish economy would hope. These institutions are facing diminishing financing themselves, at a time when enrollment demand for a community college education is at an all time high. Many community colleges across the country are facing the inconceivable reality of turning students away at the door because there is simply no more room in the classes to accommodate them. One of the states that has been hit hardest with the community college overload is California – and it doesn't look like there is any relief in sight.

Long Wait Lists and Less Support Available

According to a recent report at the Los Angeles Times, more than 140,000 students were turned away from community colleges in California during the last academic year. This year, the number of students who can't get into classes is predicted to be double. At Cypress College, around 6,200 students were on wait lists for courses last year, with 13,000 more waiting at Bakersfield College and as many as 80,000 in the Los Rios