Theodore N. Black’s Post

Happy Community College Month! 🎉 Throughout April, let's celebrate the invaluable contributions of community colleges to students, the economy, and beyond. From providing affordable education and career training to fostering innovation and driving economic growth, community colleges play a vital role in shaping our society. As the #19Strong community colleges serve as the economic engine of our communities, the latest LARC Economic Impact report reveals their significant contribution. According to the latest LARC Economic Impact report, the collective efforts of community colleges in Los Angeles County generated a staggering $23.2 billion in added income for the economy during fiscal year (FY) 2021-22. This impact is equivalent to approximately 2.6% of the county's total gross regional product, surpassing the entire Construction industry. This economic boost translates into tangible support for jobs, with the impact of $23.2 billion sustaining a remarkable 242,154 positions. In essence, one out of every 29 jobs in Los Angeles County is supported by the activities of community colleges and their students. Let's take a moment to applaud the remarkable achievements of these institutions and reaffirm our commitment to supporting their mission of accessible education for all. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/giaDdE6Z #19Strong #LACommunityColleges #CommunityCollegeMonth #Education #EconomicImpact #Opportunity #LosAngelesCommunityColleges #Innovation

📢 Join us for an enlightening discussion on our latest report! 📊 First, the good news: High school graduation rates have been on the rise across Massachusetts, paving the way for a larger pool of potential students to consider higher education institutions. But there's more to the story. 📚 Our report also reveals a less optimistic key finding: Immediate college enrollment declined from 73% in 2015-16 to 63% in 2020-21. Alarmingly, this trend disproportionately affected students of color, highlighting significant disparities in access. Discover these insights and more by delving into our comprehensive report: https://bit.ly/3Pa0Xo1 #SeizingTheOppurtunity #ReverseDecliningEnrollments

The very brief mention I heard on NPR this weekend didn't go past the headline. You are led to believe that community colleges provide an inferior product and potential students are staying away. That neglects the fact that community colleges are counter-cyclical (we surge when the economy is poor - unemployment is far lower now at 3.5% versus the depths of the great recession at 11%) and that we are open access institutions as compared to 4-year peers (who are selective). Never mind the funding inequities. #communitycollege #unemployment

It is the last week of #ccmonth and we are excited to spend this week celebrating some of the amazing #communitycolleges with whom we get to partner. Combined, the community colleges we work with serve a total of 65K students helping them to improve their enrollment, payment and retention outcomes. We will spotlight schools and leaders over the next few days but first, a few facts from Association of Community College Trustees about what community colleges do: - Provide higher education to students who have the fewest resources and the greatest obstacles - Guarantee fair admission - “Are engines of economic mobility and dynamism,” according to the American Federation of Scientists. - “Can drive local inclusive economic recovery,” according to the Urban Institute. - Are the most in-demand institutions during and following times of economic recession and when workers need to acquire new practical skills Community colleges are essential: join us in recognizing them, celebrating them and supporting them!

How many times have we heard that "COVID is not *the* issue for higher education, it is the accelerant of the issues"? Student flight to quality was already happening...it has only accelerated over the past few years and, in many cases, is testing the limits of campuses' academic, student services and campus housing capacity. Texas State's Bill Mattera, PhD provides great insight on the issue in this conversation with NPR. #highereducation #studenthousing

Excellent summary of our latest article providing a blueprint for conducting research in rural community colleges. Thanks Virginia Tech Engineering Education and Sarah L. Rodriguez for the handy graphics! See below ⬇️ #communitycollege #ruraleducation #equity

We can talk about emerging trends and the now realized implications of the demographic cliff all we want (and should), but these conversations need to be coupled with the myriad of insecurity related issues related to housing and affordability within and around the institutions students attend. Short story here is we won't retain or admit anyone if we can't house them or ensure they can afford housing to begin with. https://lnkd.in/g3QGcNzk

No surprise, Inside Higher Ed highlights the news about more colleges and universities (public and private) planning cuts since each of the schools are facing significant financial woes. Demographic declines are definitely impacting overall consideration and selection by prospective students. Sign of the times. #highered #higheredleadership #collegesanduniversities #enrollmentmanagement