Vital to Job Training, Community Colleges Under Threat
February 10, 2022
Community colleges, a major producer of workers ready for skilled occupations, are reportedly under threat, with enrollment at nearly 20-year lows and funding falling. Underscoring what economists might call lost opportunity costs, William B. Bonvillian and Sanjay E. Sarma highlight in Issues how a trio of community colleges have proved successful in workforce education—and how to build on their success. Among key features, the authors write, successful schools closely link programs to industry needs, offer schedules suited to students’ daily lives, award credentials based on demonstrated competencies, and embrace lifelong learning.