CCRC in the News

The Camden Reach program, which is part of New Jersey's efforts to increase postsecondary attainment among residents, offers high school students the chance to earn college credits for free. CCRC Senior Research Scholar Elisabeth Barnett told The 74 that evidence supports early college high schools.

No state has been hit harder by pandemic-related enrollment declines than California, which saw its community college and university population dwindle by 123,000 students from spring 2020 to spring 2021. Although optimistic that fall enrollment will rebound, CCRC Director Tom Brock told the Los Angeles Times he is concerned that further declines could lead to a spiral of community college funding cuts.

Several historically Black colleges and universities are using federal stimulus money and donations received during last summer's racial justice movement to forgive graduates' student loan debt. CCRC Senior Research Scholar Judith Scott-Clayton, whose work illuminated the racial gap in student loan debt, told Inside Higher Ed that the colleges' actions are admirable, but it's policymakers who really need to take on debt forgiveness.

This Hechinger Report newsletter summarizes CCRC's new studies examining what states and community colleges can do to address the needs of racially minoritized adult learners. CCRC Director Tom Brock emphasized the importance of targeting resources toward specific student subgroups and focusing on cultural sustainability. 

Community colleges across the country are using creative strategies to bring students back and counteract pandemic-induced enrollment declines. CCRC Director Tom Brock told PBS NewsHour that boosting community college enrollment—especially in certain workforce programs—is crucial for the U.S. economy.

In this Inside Higher Ed op-ed, CCRC Research Affiliate Jim Jacobs argues that community colleges need to consider whether their workforce development programs are helping or hurting their equity missions. He explains how four components of successful workforce programs could be reimagined to support learners from diverse backgrounds. 

Inside Higher Ed described findings from CCRC's new trio of reports on how colleges and states can support racially minoritized adult learners who are pursuing postsecondary education as a path to re-employment, better jobs, and higher incomes. Community College Daily also wrote about the publication. 

To reduce financial risk for students and boost enrollment, a Wisconsin college is offering learners the chance to test out classes for free before they decide to enroll. CCRC's Hana Lahr told Higher Ed Dive that, in order to get students to commit after the trial, the college should make it clear how the classes can help them meet their goals.

CCRC Senior Research Associate and Program Lead Susan Bickerstaff wrote a blog post for the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges about lesson study, a professional development opportunity that provides a framework for faculty to take collective ownership over examining and improving student learning.

This EdSurge story describes the Community College Research-Practice-Policy Exchange, which CCRC is proud to a part of. The initiative will develop a practitioner-defined national community college research agenda and disseminate research findings throughout the country.