CCRC in the News
The Transfer Maze: How Systemic Snags Too Often Block the Path from Community College to a Bachelor's Degree
The best examples of transfer partnerships involve connections between academic departments at two institutions, John Fink told The Chronicle of Higher Education. “They build trust and hammer out the right course sequence — but unfortunately, I don’t feel like that is widespread at all."
DataPoints: Healthcare Education
Community College Daily breaks down the findings from CCRC's latest report analyzing healthcare training programs in community colleges.
Persistence Rebounds to Pre-COVID Levels, But Not for Everyone
After two years of COVID-19-related disruptions, the percentage of first-time college students sticking with school has returned to pre-pandemic levels. A report by NSCRC also found growing interest in short-term skilled trade credentials. Thomas Brock called this "good for the students and good for the country. Those often are very good-paying jobs, and there’s a lot of need right now."
High Schoolers Account for Nearly 1 Out of Every 5 Community College Students
Dual enrollment far exceeds the popularity of Advanced Placement courses. The sharp growth in dual enrollment has raised a lot of questions about course content. In a story in The Hechinger Report, John Fink acknowledged that quality is uneven. But colleges that oversee these courses are trying to improve quality, Fink said.
Most Community College Students Hope to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree. CCAC Students Have Better Odds Than Others Nationwide
About 45% of transfer-intending students at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) enroll at a four-year university by the next academic year; the national average is 31%. John Fink spoke to PublicSource about the value of advising and the role four-year universities play in the transfer process.
Online Learning Still in High Demand at Community Colleges
Inside Higher Ed reports that some colleges are still offering the majority of their classes online in response to student demand. Nikki Edgecombe discusses the tradeoff between responding to student demand and ensuring students are set up for success.
A Look at Pandemic Relief Funding for Community Colleges
During the pandemic, the federal government directed more than $75 billion through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to colleges and universities. Community College Daily reports on a recent CCRC brief.
Oregon Community Colleges See Success in Revamp of Remedial Education
Nikki Edgecombe spoke with The Oregonian about the corequisite remediation model: “We’ve seen larger, growing, cumulative evidence that this model supports stronger student outcomes. I don’t really think the evidence is in question.”
New Report A Mixed Bag on Student Engagement with Online Learning
The results of a new survey showed that in some expected but critical ways, disengagement increased with distance. “It just suggests we have more work to do in the research and in support for faculty and in the design of online tools to increase the quality of the courses,” Susan Bickerstaff told Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.
Leveling Off at the Bottom
New data show enrollments have largely stabilized after the pandemic nosedive. But recovery remains elusive, and demographic shifts threaten to keep it that way. John Fink discusses the opportunity dual enrollment and transfer students represent in recovering enrollment numbers.
