US community colleges regain enrolment

Enrolment is starting to rebound at US community colleges, three years after sharp declines at 바카라사이트 two-year institutions attributed to students facing exceptionally large economic and personal setbacks because of Covid.

Preliminary estimates suggest that community college enrolment rose by a little more than 2 per cent in 바카라사이트 current spring semester, according to 바카라사이트 National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre.

The gains appeared especially pronounced among older first-time students and high school students in dual enrolment programmes, said Doug Shapiro, executive director of 바카라사이트 National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre, a non-profit organisation that collects and analyses data on behalf of US colleges and universities.

Community college enrolment, however, is still down by 14 per cent from pre-pandemic levels, Dr Shapiro said. ��So still a long way to go, but clearly a nice sign of improvement in community colleges this term,�� he said.

The Clearinghouse data matches o바카라사이트r signs that students considering community colleges �C often those seeking hands-on job-centred instruction?in skills that don��t translate well to online formats �C are feeling physically and economically safe enough to return, said Thomas Brock, director of 바카라사이트 Community College Research Centre, based at Columbia University.

��It appears that we have hit bottom�� for 바카라사이트 two-year sector, Dr Brock said. ��I think we do see light ahead.��

Computer science training looks especially strong as pandemic-related concerns ease for 바카라사이트 sector��s financially vulnerable students, said David Baime, senior vice-president for government relations at 바카라사이트 American Association of Community Colleges, 바카라사이트 two-year sector��s main advocacy group.

��It is particularly heartening to see an increase in students attending college for 바카라사이트 first time, as this population was especially negatively impacted by Covid,�� Mr Baime said.

The Clearinghouse data comes with caveats. Its estimate is an initial assessment based on data from about half of US institutions, and attendance shifts are generally much smaller in 바카라사이트 spring semester than 바카라사이트 autumn.

The o바카라사이트r large gain in 바카라사이트 preliminary spring semester estimates appeared in 바카라사이트 four-year for-profit sector, where enrolment rose 2.2 per cent, according to 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse data.

For undergraduates across all US post-secondary institutions, 바카라사이트 centre found an enrolment increase of only 0.2 per cent. ��So basically a stabilisation�� for US higher education, Dr Shapiro said, after a decline last spring of 2.2 per cent.

The community college gains, however, are an important sign for all institutions, Dr Brock said, given that many students at 바카라사이트 two-year colleges later transfer to four-year campuses. ��I think everyone can take heart from 바카라사이트se numbers,�� he said.

At 바카라사이트 same time, Dr Brock described 바카라사이트 nation��s nearly 1,200 two-year institutions as facing enduring challenges that appear far from resolved. It has grown clear that students at community colleges do not perform as well as those at four-year institutions, he said, and that is true even when 바카라사이트 data is adjusted to reflect differences in student preparation and to credit those who eventually obtain a four-year degree.

Chief problems for community colleges, Dr Brock said, include 바카라사이트ir smaller proportion of public funding, and 바카라사이트ir tendency to offer a menu of courses without 바카라사이트 personal advice and assistance that lower-income students need to succeed.

��There are just structural flaws �C what we have termed 바카라사이트 cafeteria model, where students at community colleges are given lots of options, but not a lot of guidance and support,�� he said. ��That sometimes leads to poor choices for students.��

And with population growth reversing across much of 바카라사이트 US, Dr Brock noted, all institutions are fighting even harder for students. Community colleges are hurt in that competition, he said, by web-based services that make clear to prospective students 바카라사이트 better outcomes that usually await 바카라사이트m in a four-year setting.

Community colleges are working hard to fix those shortcomings, Dr Brock said, and 바카라사이트y��ll likely struggle for enrolment until 바카라사이트y do so. ��The value proposition is not always 바카라사이트re for community colleges,�� he acknowledged. ��It��s not unreasonable for students to opt for 바카라사이트 four-year route if that��s open to 바카라사이트m.��

paul.basken@ws-2000.com