Community Colleges adaptation in rough waters

As colleges face decrease enrollment, faculty are concerned as to how long they will have their jobs. They see colleagues in departments get let go as their office gets eliminated, and their adjunct colleagues being offered fewer courses. Several private colleges have closed nationally and regionally. The demographic trend in the region is of a decreasing of the population. Faculty can see the trend reflected in the size of their classes and the course sections. 

 The information, communication, and technology revolution is in full bloom and impacting higher education in fundamental ways. Brick and mortar colleges are not only competing with college in the geographical region in which they reside but all online in a global higher education ecosystem.   The political climate at state and federal levels is always friendly to public education as they look for market-based solutions to the nation’s education problems.

 In this context, an adaptation mindset, and innovation are needed. To my mind, that means engaging in sustained conversations about how the system is responding to the ever-changing context. One-off or infrequent communication and dialogue that is just aimed at dismissing present fears is counterproductive. We all have to realize that we presently engage in fixing the community college ship while we are sailing it. We should aim for all to swim and not sink if the condition dictates that they abandon this ship for other ships. Shocks happen despite our best intention, but the more prepared we are for possible shocks the best I think we can deal with it. Two-way evidence-based dialogue between workers and administration is a way to address how the colleges are adapting to change.

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