Community colleges have been under pressure for years to improve retention rates. Considering well-publicized reductions in state funding during and after the Great Recession, progress in this area is unexpected. And yet this is precisely what we find. Using the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), we find an average increase in…

The "8th Update" of the Community College League of California's (League) CEO Tenure & Retention Study provides an overview of tenure rates across the California Community Colleges' history while also analyzing key changes in demographic trends. Specifically, the study reveals a more equitable distribution of male and female chief…

This report examines college and university finances during one of the most turbulent economic periods in decades. The financial ramifications of the 2008 recession were vast, affecting students' ability to pay for college, lawmakers' prioritization of public resources, and the budgetary environment facing higher education leaders. The challenges…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify future trends and barriers that will either facilitate or impede the narrowing of the digital skills divide among older adults during the next 10 years. Methodology: To address the research questions, this study used a modified version of the Delphi process using a panel of experts who…

An annual survey of higher-education leaders found most believe cuts will be smaller next year than in recent years. In some states, the largest increase requests were by community college systems. Changes in tuition-setting policy, governance, and financial aid are also common issues. (MSE)

Predicted enrollment growth at four-year colleges in some states has not occurred. Trends complicating projection include increase in high school students taking college courses and progressing quickly; community college demand among older students; federal aid and tax changes; growth of distance learning; state and federal welfare program…

Compares traditional and current activities of community colleges in promoting local and regional economic development, and makes recommendations concerning the colleges' role in economic development: more research on community college involvement; a system of model programs; improved communication using advanced information technology; enhanced…

Over 500 of the 60,000 students at Northern Virginia Community College already have doctorates, but are seeking job-specific training. Some are enhancing current skills and some are changing careers for personal or economic reasons. Proliferation of high-technology companies in the area has influenced this trend. About 15% of the college's…

Background materials are presented on demographic trends, economic changes, financing patterns and governance decisions affecting community colleges in the western United States. Following an executive summary, chapter I provides an overview of the characteristics of public community colleges and the particular challenges they face. Chapter II…

Environmental scanning (ES) is a formal process of assessing trends and forecasting events which can influence an institution so that the potential challenges and opportunities can be effectively anticipated during strategic planning activities. The goal of ES is the implementation of proactive, anticipatory policies that will be robust under a…

An examination is provided of the environmental, economic, and educational factors that will influence the courses, programs, and services of the community college in the future. Introductory remarks provide an overview of the future of the community college, detailing factors affecting the institutions such as the tax revolution, declining…

If community colleges are to shape their own futures, leaders must address these trends: growing public skepticism of higher education; program downsizing to cut costs; increased sectoring within state systems; refocusing of mission on the economy and workplace; demand for developmental education; demographic shifts; and anxiety about the economic…

Recent labor market and economic trends have spotlighted the need for work force development systems and policies to simultaneously serve employers seeking qualified workers and individuals who want to find work and advance toward self-sufficiency. This need has in turn led to the development of labor market intermediaries that can perform a wide…

Surging demand for workers, growing income inequality, and passage of welfare reforms have made work force development one of the United States' key national concerns. Public/Private Ventures has been working with various states to design work force development strategies that seek to address the concerns of many work force development specialists…

This report is the product of an effort by the Office of Technology Policy to assess current and future needs for information technology (IT) workers through a comprehensive information-gathering project that included the following three activities: (1) nationwide regional meetings that included discussions with industry executives,…