COMBASE
National Update
Charlotte, NC
September 16, 2008
George R. Boggs
Why Community
Colleges are Important
Community Colleges in the US
Community College Values
Access >>> Success
 Community Responsiveness
 Clear Focus on Student Learning
 Resourcefulness
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Creativeness
Innovativeness

Changing Face of America
The Degree Gap
Percent with BA or higher (2000)
28% of whites
 17% of African Americans
 11% of Hispanics

Relationship of Income to College
Access
Rate
Family Income

88.8%
> $74,584

68.2%
$25,064-$47,405

53.3%
< $25,064
Societal Change
High Skilled & Unskilled Jobs as a % of the Workforce, 2000 to 2012
2000
25%
20%
2002
20.7%
18.4%
19.2%
2012
13.0%
15%
11.8%
10.9%
10%
5%
0%
Professional & Related
Occupations
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Production, installation,
maintenance & Repair
Occupations
Certificates and Degrees
change lives
Higher levels of
education lead to higher
earnings for all racial
and ethnic groups and
for both men and
women. People with
associate degrees
generally earn 20 to 30
percent more than
people with only high
school diplomas.
Civilian Labor Force by Educational Attainment 1970 to 2004
45.0%
High School Graduate
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
Bachelor's Degree or More
25.0%
1-3 Years College
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
Less Than 4 Years High School
5.0%
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
0.0%
Shared Prosperity?
Education Required
Projected Growth in Supply and Demand of Workers With Some Postsecondary
Education, 1998 to 2028
Jobs requiring some postsecondary experience
Workers with some postsecondary experience
150,000
140,000
Thousands
130,000
120,000
110,000
100,000
90,000
80,000
70,000
60,000
1998
2008
2018
2028
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau and National Alliance of Business
America’s Future at Stake


75% of new jobs require some postsecondary education.
Only 35% of Americans (25-34) have
2 or more years post-secondary
education.
–
-Source: 2000 data
National Information Center for Higher Ed.
Job growth estimates for the 2010
workforce
Based on 2005 U.S Census data + U.S. Department of Education, Office of Adult and Vocational Education, "The Economic Imperative for
Improving Education," in The High School Leadership Summit, Issue Papers (Washington D.C., 2003), Figure 2.
Today’s Workforce: Data for 25+
year olds
Source: 2005 U.S Census data
Overlapping these profiles
shows a significant gap will
need to be closed!
 “Work
gets done where it can be
done most efficiently and
effectively.” (Friedman, 2005)
More Emphasis on STEM
Competitiveness
NAS Gathering Storm report
 Friedman’s flat world
 NSB commission
 ACGs and SMART Grants

– WDI
– AACC/NSF ATE PI conference
More Enrollment Pressure for CCs
Rising university tuition costs and
increased selectivity will drive more
students to CCs
 Increased need for LLL will drive up
enrollments
 Retiring Baby Boomers will increase
enrollments

Immigration will remain a political
issue for a while
DREAM act will still be politically
sensitive
 May cool somewhat if economy
continues to be strong
 Growing recognition for need to retain
some international students

Accountability Again
More focus on success of students—not
just access
 Evidence of student learning will be
required by accrediting agencies,
states, and federal government
 Colleges will move toward a culture of
evidence and use of data

We can help more community
college students succeed

Achieving the Dream is about being
open and forthright about performance
— and doing what it takes to improve it.
Trend for Increased Student
Mobility, but many are Place-Bound
Better articulation agreements with
universities
 More university centers on CC
campuses
 More distance learning opportunities

More Focus on K-12 Transitions
Expectations for HE need to be made
clear
 Transitions need to be improved

– League’s CCTI
– GEAR-UP
– Concurrent enrollment
– Middle College HS
Growing Importance of Global &
Intercultural Education

Emerging global society and economy
– Friedman’s flat world
– Bush National Defense Foreign Language
Initiative
– AACC work with Dept. of State
– AACC Recruitment efforts

Trips, Web page, study guide, map
Funding Issues will Remain
More competition for state resources
 For-profit institutions will become more
aggressive in seeking public funds
 CCs will become more adept in seeking
private resources, earmarks, and grant
funds

Current Issues
Presidential Campaigns
 Campus safety and security
 Accreditation challenges
 Leadership and faculty turnover
 Environmental Issues
 Additional Policy Issues

– WIA Reauthorization, Tax Issues, etc.
American Association of
Community Colleges
The Voice of America’s
Community Colleges