CCRC in the News
Coronavirus News Roundup for May 26
In this Inside Higher Ed Q&A, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins compares the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis on community college enrollment. He also speculates about the effects of potential budget cuts and the future of hands-on workforce development programs.
Why COVID-19 Could Force Colleges to Fix Their Transfer Problems
The COVID-19 pandemic may prompt an enrollment bump at community colleges, as four-year students opt to take less expensive classes closer to home. Many community colleges are hoping for this outcome, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins told The Chronicle of Higher Education, and if they want to hold onto these students, they'll need to work deliberately to support them.
Pass/Fail During COVID-19? Not at Community Colleges, and Some Students Aren’t Happy
Although four-year colleges across the country have transitioned to pass/fail grading systems to alleviate stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, many community colleges have hesitated to follow suit, fearing that such a policy would hurt students who seek to transfer and earn a bachelor's degree in the long run. In this Charlotte Observer story, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins explains the uphill battle aspiring transfer students face.
Community Colleges Prepare for Enrollment Spike Tied to Coronavirus
In this Fox News story about how the coronavirus may affect higher education, CCRC Director Thomas Brock explains that, historically, community college enrollment increases amid an economic downturn.
If Cuomo Cuts Funding, CUNY Layoffs Will Be a ‘Bloodbath’
The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic may wreak havoc on the City University of New York and force the system to lay off a substantial number of employees. In this article from The Nation, CCRC Director Thomas Brock explains why keeping institutions like CUNY strong is so important for underserved students.
With Higher Ed in Limbo, Students Are Switching to Community Colleges
As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts their education plans, students are considering community colleges as an alternative to going away to school. In this story from NBC and The Hechinger Report, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins explains what community colleges should do to retain those students and avoid a potential enrollment dip.
Why Flexibility in Credit Transfers Is Crucial for Equity in a Post-COVID-19 World
Community college students who aspire to transfer to four-year colleges often struggle to bring their credits with them, and the displacement caused by COVID-19 threatens to exacerbate the issue. In Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins describes the challenges students face when two- and four-year institutions aren't on the same page and highlights collaborative efforts that buck the trend.
First-Gen Problems: How One Group of Students Are Struggling During COVID
CCRC Research Associate Andrea Lopez spoke to Uptown Radio for this story about the challenges first-generation college students face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking at Recession Data to Gauge Possible Trends
Community College Daily describes CCRC's latest blog posts on the center's new definition for "community college" and the potential effects of COVID-19 on student enrollment.
More College Students May Need Remedial Help This Fall. Can They Get It Online?
The transition away from in-class instruction poses particular challenges for developmental education students and instructors, who may lack reliable internet access and have to juggle jobs as essential workers with their courses. This Chronicle of Higher Education story, which draws on CCRC research for context, details those hurdles and explains how some are finding ways to overcome them.
