CCRC in the News
The Mystery of Short-Term Credentials
Are short-term workforce credentials really a money-saving shortcut to a good job? CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins added nuance to this narrative for The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Transfer Enrollments Continue Pandemic-Driven Decline
CCRC Senior Research Associate John Fink spoke to Inside Higher Ed about the pandemic's contribution to declining transfer enrollment, especially among the most marginalized students: “We should measure our success by how well we’re serving those students who have been disproportionately impacted by both the pre-existing challenges in our transfer system as well as the ones we’re seeing through the course of the pandemic.”
The Importance of Credit Accumulation with Taylor Odle and Davis Jenkins
This episode of the Come to Believe (CTB) podcast focuses on credit accumulation—how the rate at which students earn college credits can make a big difference on their trajectories and ultimate success. CTB's educational programs manager, Sam Adams, was joined by CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins and Dr. Taylor Odle of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A Job and a College Degree Before You Graduate High School
For Washington Monthly, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins contextualized the state of dual enrollment programs like P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) across the country: "In every state where we’ve looked at this, the average number of dual enrollment credits students take before they graduate is small—usually around 6 to 9 credits or 2 to 3 courses."
Why Don't More Community College Students Transfer?
According to figures issued by CCRC in 2021, of 100 degree-seeking community college students, about 31 were transferring to a four-year college, and only 14 earned a bachelor’s degree within six years. CCRC Director Thomas Brock spoke to The Chronicle of Higher Education about the shortcomings of the current transfer process, noting that educators and policymakers "find [these shortcomings] inexcusable and intolerable and are dedicated to making improvements."
Caring Campus Initiative Yields Positive Reviews
Inside Higher Ed writes about CCRC's recent report on the Caring Campus Initiative, which is led by The Institute for Evidence-Based Change. The report is by CCRC Senior Research Associate Susan Bickerstaff and Senior Research Scholar Elisabeth Barnett.
Report: Average College Student Not on Track to Finish in Five Years
According to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse, the average full-time student doesn't earn enough credits to complete a bachelor’s degree in five years. But the problem, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins stresses, is structural: "Colleges need to dramatically shift their orientation to helping students get momentum."
Expanding Access to Transfer Pathways
New transfer pathways are expected to be available to students in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in two years. As CCRC Senior Research Associate John Fink notes, "People know we need to do something differently because what we’re doing is not really working."
Influencer 101
For Inside Higher Ed, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins weighs in on an Ohio community college's decision to offer a social media influencer training program: “This is precisely the kind of thing community colleges need to do to attract students."
Tarrant County College’s New Approach to Degrees Could Get Students From Class to Careers Quicker
As discussed in the Fort Worth Report, Tarrant County College is implementing guided pathways to help students clarify their goals, complete their studies, and earn their credentials.