CCRC in the News
Would Offering More Associate Degrees at Technical Schools Hurt Wisconsin's 2-Year Colleges?
The Wisconsin legislature is considering a bill that would allow the state's technical colleges to offer more associate degree programs. CCRC Senior Research Associate Maria Cormier told Higher Ed Dive that increasing access to two-year degrees could help meet the demand for lifelong learning opportunities.
NCCC in Winsted Selected to Attend Research Center’s Institute
Northwestern Connecticut Community College will join CCRC's summer institute on guided pathways. NCCC's local paper, The Litchfield County Times, celebrated the college's selection to the program.
LI Community Colleges See Marked Declines in Enrollment
Community college enrollment has been decreasing on Long Island for the last decade, and the pandemic accelerated the trend. CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins told Newsday that the declines are a reflection not only of COVID-19 but also of the importance of a four-year degree in communities like the New York City suburbs.
25% of Students Postponed College During COVID, Some Indefinitely
CCRC Director Thomas Brock discussed the alarming dip in community college enrollment, particularly among subpopulations of students including Black men, with CNBC. Because students can register for community college classes up until the semester begins, fall enrollment numbers will remain unclear for several more months.
The Student Debt Crisis Is Crushing Black Americans. Here's How Loan Forgiveness Could Help
Black Americans on average owe about 50% more in student debt after they graduate than their white peers, prompting some to calls for debt cancellation as an antiracist policy. CCRC Senior Research Scholar Judith Scott-Clayton told USA Today that the focus should be on helping students with the lowest levels of loan debt first because they often struggle the most to pay them off.
Transfer Enrollment Drops
Although the number of students transferring from two- to four-year colleges went up this spring, transfer enrollment is down overall and across community colleges in particular. CCRC Senior Research Associate John Fink told Inside Higher Ed he is not surprised by the trend because bachelor's degrees are increasingly seen as offering the most secure path to a stable, resilient job.
Community College: How Education’s ‘Best-Kept Secret’ Stays Afloat
Amid pandemic-related enrollment declines, community colleges across the country have innovated to better serve and retain students. In this Christian Science Monitor story, CCRC Director Thomas Brock explains how important the sector is to students' and communities' short- and long-term economic prospects.
Biden Pitches $12B for Community College Infrastructure
President Biden's proposed $2 trillion infrastructure package includes $12 billion for states to upgrade community college facilities and technology. CCRC Director Tom Brock told Higher Ed Dive that the proposal likely meets or exceeds community college officials' expectations and emphasized that campuses need more funding for instruction and student supports.
Motlow State Adult Pathway Approach Gains National Attention
The Cannon Courier describes findings from CCRC's January 2021 report on strategies three guided pathways colleges in Tennessee use to help adult students enter programs of study, stay on path, and enhance learning.
Over 60,000 Students Applied to Columbia This Year. Will the 51 Percent Spike Decrease the Achievement Gap?
After implementing a one-year test-optional policy and transitioning to virtual outreach for this year's admissions cycle, Columbia University saw a significant jump in undergraduate applications. CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins told The Columbia Spectator that he was concerned the diverse applicant pool would not necessarily translate to a diverse student body because of the pandemic's disproportionate effect on low-income and minoritized communities.