CCRC in the News
Community Colleges Could See a Surge in Popularity Amid COVID-19
In this CNBC story about how COVID-19 may affect community college enrollment, CCRC Director Thomas Brock explains the types of classes students who intend to transfer to a four-year college can take while they're at a two-year institution.
College Costs May Be a Top Concern Amid COVID-19 Economic Crash, but Here’s Why Picking a Cheaper School Now May Actually Leave Students Worse Off
This article in The 74 describes CCRC Research Affiliate Shanna Smith Jaggars's new paper on the unintended consequences of diverting students who could succeed at the four-year level to community colleges. The report builds off work Jaggars did with CCRC Research Associate Maggie Fay and Negar Farakish on the American Honors program.
Community College Stakeholders Implement Supports to Guide Students to Graduation
This Diverse: Issues in Higher Education story describes initiatives like CUNY Start and Tennessee Reconnect, which aim to increase retention by more deliberately engaging community college students. In the story, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins explains why it's so important for campuses to give students "light-the-fire learning experience[s]."
Dual Enrollment Works. But Who Is It Working For?
CCRC research indicates dual enrollment programs are growing across the country, but they may not be helping students from all backgrounds get a leg up. In this Diverse: Issues in Higher Education story, CCRC Senior Research Associate John Fink describes the demographic disparities in dual enrollment participation and explains why that variation is an issue.
Choosing Pass/Fail Grades May Help College Students Now, but Could Cost Them Later
Colleges across the country have moved to a pass/fail grading system in the wake of the coronavirus, and though many students have heralded the move as necessary considering the circumstances, one group may suffer consequences: aspiring transfer students. In this PBS story originally published by The Hechinger Report, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins explains why the switch to pass/fail may make a challenging process even harder.
COVID-19’s Impact on Community College Research
CCRC Director Thomas Brock told Community College Daily that CCRC remains committed to its research agenda and long-term work on topics like guided pathways and advising, despite the coronavirus crisis. He emphasized the need to keep moving forward while highlighting the relevance of past work that could help the field now.
Anyone Got a Job? These College Seniors Are Sure Going to Need One
The coronavirus has upended the economy and shattered the job market, leaving graduating college students anxious about beginning their careers. CCRC Senior Research Scholar Davis Jenkins spoke to The Hechinger Report about how community college students in particular will be disadvantaged by these circumstances.
College Degrees and What They're Worth
In The Philadelphia Inquirer, CCRC Senior Research Scholar Jordan Matsudaira explains why students benefit when institutions make public data about post-degree job prospects and projected salaries.
Four Concerns—and One Cause for Hope—as Coronavirus Closes Community Colleges
In EdSurge, CCRC Director Thomas Brock outlines challenges that community colleges must confront in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, including disruptions to student progress and dwindling resources.
The Coronavirus Is Forcing Many Colleges to Go Online Only. But Will It Work for Everyone?
As the coronavirus spreads across the country, colleges must move instruction online. In this Seattle Times story, CCRC Research Affiliate Di Xu describes several strategies for making digital learning as meaningful as possible.
