Enrollments are way up, budgets are down, mid-year budget cuts are common, online courses and programs are growing and community college presidents are optimistic that the economic stimulus package passed by the Congress in February will benefit their campuses and communities. These are the key findings from a new national survey of 120 community college presidents and district chancellors conducted in February and March 2009 by the League for Innovation in the Community College and The Campus Computing Project, in partnership with the education business of Pearson.
More than 9 in 10 of the presidents and chancellors participating in the winter 2009 survey report that headcount enrollment in their districts and on their campuses has increased compared to one year ago. Moreover, almost three-fourths of the presidents indicate headcount enrollment is up by 5 percent or more compared to winter 2008.
The data also points to dramatic enrollment growth in key programs and service areas as the economy has soured over the past 12 months. For example, more than three-fourths of the community college presidents participating in the survey report enrollment gains in core academic and degree transfer programs. Similarly, large numbers of presidents report growing enrollments in remedial/developmental education programs, and student success/freshman development programs. These gains parallel the percentage of presidents and chancellors reporting rising enrollments in career enhancement or refresher courses, business and accounting courses and programs, health care courses and programs, information technology courses and programs, and vocational training programs.
The rising enrollment numbers stand in stark contrast to the budget cuts imposed on community colleges over the past year. Almost three-fifths of the presidents and chancellors participating in the survey report budget cuts at their institutions. Moreover, 70 percent of the campuses experiencing budget cuts had their budgets reduced by 5 percent or more compared to the previous academic year. Additionally, three-fifths of the presidents report that their institutions also experienced mid-year budget recessions, averaging about 5 percent, compounding the financial challenges confronting the nation's two-year institutions. Yet despite the budget cuts, only 14 percent of presidents report reductions in student aid programs funded by their campus or district, while 44 percent report increases in the student aid budget supported by institutional dollars.
The impact of the budget cuts appears in the survey data about employment: two-fifths of the presidents report a hiring freeze at their institutions; an equal number report a decrease in total institutional employment over the past 12 months. The staff reductions are highest for administrative positions, clerical staff, and facilities and other site support personnel.
"The dramatic enrollment gains over the past 12 months confirm that the nation's community colleges are at the forefront of both individual efforts and community responses to the economic downturn," said Gerardo E. de los Santos, president and CEO of the League for Innovation in the Community College. "In contrast, the data about budget cuts and reduced employment also confirm that community colleges are on the receiving end of the 'do more with less and do it better' mantra that typically accompanies budget cuts and economic upheaval."
The data highlights dramatic enrollment gains in online courses and programs in community colleges over the past year. More than 9 in 10 of the presidents report rising enrollment in online courses; two-fifths report online course enrollments increased by 5-10 percent, while another third report a gain of 10 percent or more in the number of students enrolled in online courses compared to winter 2008. Although the numbers are not as dramatic, half the presidents report enrollment gains in the online certificate programs offered by their campuses and more than half report rising enrollments in online degree programs over the past 12 months.
Community college presidents seem optimistic that the economic stimulus plan passed by the Congress in February will benefit their institutions and communities. Two-thirds agree that the stimulus plan "will benefit enrollment and programs" at their institutions; a slightly larger number agree that the stimulus plan will "benefit employment in [my] community."
*A total of 120 community college presidents and campus chancellors participated in the online survey that was conducted from February 24 to March 12, 2009.
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