CCRC in the News
Pathways Are Worth the Cost
Community College Daily summarizes CCRC's latest reports on guided pathways, which estimate the cost of the reforms and offer guidance for how to fund and sustain them.
As Community College Enrollment Dips Nationwide, CCV Numbers Hold Steady
Bucking national trends, enrollment at the Community College of Vermont has stayed near its pre-pandemic levels this semester. CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins told VT Digger that the college's relatively high tuition rate may have been a factor because students were already used to paying more to attend classes.
In Another Blow to Student Equity, Transfers to 2-Year Colleges Plunge
CCRC Director Tom Brock spoke to The Chronicle of Higher Education about the decline in transfer enrollments and noted that he is concerned the dip in students will lead to a drop in funding for community colleges.
Transfer Enrollment Declines
CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins told Insider Higher Ed he's not particularly surprised that new data indicate transfer enrollment is down 4.7% from last fall. Enrollment across higher education and at community colleges in particular has decreased during the pandemic.
‘This Could Be Huge’—Economists Weigh in on Biden’s Proposal to Forgive $10,000 in Student Debt in Exchange for Public Service
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden released a program proposal that would wipe out a significant amount of student debt for each year of national or community service, up to five years. In this CNBC story, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Judith Scott-Clayton praised the idea as a "no-brainer" but cautioned that the program should avoid creating too many hoops for borrowers to jump through to receive relief.
Students Who Counted on Work-Study Jobs Now Struggle to Pay Their Bills
The Washington Post describes how students who typically rely on work-study jobs to cover expenses are struggling to make ends meet during virtual schooling. CCRC Senior Research Scholar Judith Scott-Clayton weighed in, noting that, beyond wages, on-campus jobs often represent a key part of students' college experience.
Recessions Are Usually Good for Community Colleges. Not This Time
In this WGBH story, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins explains how COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting low-income students and students of color. Community colleges across the country have seen enrollment declines during the pandemic.
Multiple Measures Lead to Better Outcomes
This Community College Daily story describes findings from CAPR's latest report on multiple measures assessment and placement. CCRC's Elisabeth Barnett, who is a member of CAPR's senior research staff, said the impact findings suggest "colleges [should] default to placing students into college-level courses when they’re on the fence about whether or not they’re ready.”
Progress, and Finger Pointing, on Student Transfer: A Survey
A new survey from Inside Higher Ed offers a snapshot of administrators' attitudes toward and perceptions of the transfer process. CCRC Senior Research Associate John Fink said the opinion gaps between personnel at two- and four-year campuses underscore the need for officials to take "collective responsibility for transfer students from community college start to university finish."
Why Does Community College Enrollment Look So Different This Year? COVID
Enrollment dropped by 15% at Connecticut's 12 community colleges, outpacing the average 8% dip colleges nationwide have seen this semester. CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins told The Connecticut Mirror that because many students rely on service jobs to pay tuition, cuts to the industry may be partially to blame for campuses' enrollment woes.
