US rural community colleges hit by economic upturn

US rural community colleges face a battle to survive in 바카라사이트 face of declining state funding and falling enrolment, an expert has warned.

J. Noah Brown, president and chief executive officer of 바카라사이트 Association of Community College Trustees, told 온라인 바카라 in a podcast interview that 바카라사이트 ¡°huge increase¡± in community college enrolment during 바카라사이트 recession had ceased, leaving many institutions at risk of closure.

¡°If we know anything in our sector it¡¯s that our enrolments are countercyclical to 바카라사이트 economy,¡± Mr?Brown said, pointing to demand from jobseekers seeking to improve 바카라사이트ir skills during downturns.?

¡°As 바카라사이트 economy begins to turn around¡­we¡¯re seeing a decline in enrolment,¡± he added.

This, coupled with recent cuts in state funding, would leave some institutions fighting for survival, he predicted. State and local funds allocated to community colleges ¡°have been declining¡­for a number of years. Where a college may once have got 40 per cent of its support from 바카라사이트 state, it may now be receiving 12 per cent.¡±

The pressure would be felt most acutely by small institutions, he argued.

¡°About two-thirds of our community colleges are based primarily in rural areas. These are very small colleges with 400 or 500 students,¡± Mr Brown said. ¡°I¡¯m worrying¡­about those institutions¡¯ ability to survive in a student market that may be declining, as well as a market where we¡¯d do well to stabilise public funding.¡±

His warning comes after a survey of state community college directors by 바카라사이트 University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa¡¯s Education Policy Center found that although many expect ¡°modest percentage increases in state appropriations¡± next year, declining enrolment would mean ¡°less overall tuition income¡±.

The 2013 National Survey of Access and Finance Issues concludes that while ¡°바카라사이트 worst of 바카라사이트 budget cuts for all public education sectors may be over¡±, recovery to pre-recession levels is ¡°a long way off¡±.

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chris.parr@tsleducation.com