community colleges in the United States . In fact , 41 % of all undergraduate students in the United States attend community college , which costs , on average , roughly half of what public four-year universities charge . Many of these undergraduates are underrepresented students , including the majority of all first-year minority students ; students who are older than 25 ; low-income students ; and part-time students . These schools are an affordable stepping-stone to further education and , importantly , an on-ramp to jobs that provide a living wage .
According to
Davis Jenkins , a senior research scholar at Columbia University ’ s Community College Research Center , community colleges provide important lowerdivision education and advice for younger students on transferring and earning bachelor ’ s degrees . And they are poised to play an important role in offering the education and training necessary for the postpandemic recovery . “ Community colleges will … provide short-term training to help unemployed workers get back in the workplace ,” says Jenkins .
F
FILLING A NEED Since last March , more than 14 million people have filed for unemployment . The majority of those who dropped out of the labor market made less than $ 40,000 a year . Most job losses were in the service sector , followed by education and health services , with an
overall unemployment rate of 6.7 % at the end of 2020 . The recession has negatively affected enrollment at community colleges , which normally goes up during an economic downturn as people seek new credentials and skills . That has not held true during the pandemic .
For fall 2020 , while overall undergraduate enrollment was down around 3.6 %, community colleges saw a drop of 10 %, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center . The decline was particularly steep among first-time community college students , at 21 % overall , with enrollment of first-time Black , Hispanic , and Native American students falling by nearly 30 %.
Community colleges have responded by rapidly pivoting to online education , and while many colleges have provided stipends or technology loan programs , the pandemic has brought into sharp relief the digital divide and how it is impeding access to education . The schools are also providing comprehensive student support services , and working with businesses to develop curricula and training programs that will prepare students to work in the post-pandemic economy .
Community colleges are often in a unique position to respond to local employment demands due to their close relationship with industry . At Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood , Colorado , faculty in the STEM disciplines have been paying close attention to the demands of local employers .
Educators at Red Rocks are focusing on making sure STEM students are prepared for the jobs of the future as they move into the workforce . “ We ’ re looking at data science , aerospace , aerospace tech , and computer science as real growth areas in terms of where jobs are in Colorado ,” says Barbara Sobhani , interim dean of instruction over STEM . “ We need to be ready to provide the skills that the students need to fill those jobs .”
The STEM faculty have also found ways to keep students engaged in both hands-on and virtual learning . The college has introduced an appointment system for students to access its “ maker space ,” where they can work on hands-on engineering projects in small groups or use equipment such as 3D printers , says Sobhani .
Many jobs most in demand by employers and which pay a living wage require at least an associate ’ s degree . “ Community colleges ’ greatest impact on recovery will be in applied associate degree programs and applied baccalaureate programs in healthcare , engineering tech , protective services , ag tech , and other fields ,” says Jenkins .
Companies like HP have moved to invest in community colleges . Jeff Chen , Head of Research Partnerships at HP Worldwide Education , says that HP began focusing on community colleges in late 2020 . “ What drew us to community colleges is that ... in past crises colleges have played a very important role in economic recovery ,” Chen says . “ So we are very interested in business opportunities in this area , as well as the opportunity for us to help a
PREVIOUS SPREAD : ROW 1 : Bucks County Community College ; Dennis Griggs ; Cuyahoga Community College ; Dennis Griggs ; courtesy of San Jacinto College ; SUNY Clinton Community College ; Bucks County Community College ; Highline College . ROW 2 : Metropolitan Community College ; courtesy of Palm Beach State College ; Jefferson State Community College ; Bucks County Community College ; courtesy of Miami Dade College ; Metropolitan Community College ; Mitchell Community College . ROW 3 : Mt . Hood Community College ; Gino de Grandis ; courtesy of Palm Beach State College ; Valencia College . ROW 4 : Highline College ; Mitchell Community College ; Metropolitan Community College ; courtesy of San Jacinto College ; courtesy of Miami Dade College ; Santa Barbara City College ; courtesy of San Jacinto College ; Gino de Grandis . ROW 5 : Cuyahoga Community College ; Mt . Hood Community College ; Red Rocks Community College ; Red Rocks Community College ; courtesy of Miami Dade College ; Valencia College ; Dennis Griggs ; Santa Barbara City College . ROW 6 : courtesy of Palm Beach State College ; courtesy of Miami Dade College ; courtesy of San Jacinto College ; Santa Barbara City College ; Mitchell Community College ; courtesy of South Mountain ; Highline College ; Jefferson State Community College .
PHOTOGRAPHS ( FROM LEFT ): COURTESY OF METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ; MITCHELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE ; BUCKS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HP / INNOVATION / SPRING 2021 54