In a new, technology-driven economy, the nation's community colleges are playing a critical role in delivering the skills needed to keep leading industries competitive and have become the de facto provider of choice for computer training according to national survey findings released today. Community colleges are a vital education link in providing the quantity and quality of workers needed to fuel the exploding technology industry, a fact that may fundamentally change the nature of non-credit coursework. Students who have already attained advanced degrees choose community colleges to upgrade skills.
Community colleges play a substantial role generally in preparing students for today's workplace.
In a decade of steeply rising tuitions, community colleges are the best and sometimes only hope to ensure career and earning competitiveness for the least skilled and most economically disadvantaged. Over half of community college students are first-generation students whose parents did not attend college. Our survey points to the effectiveness of community college curriculum and its impact on helping people achieve their life and career goals. Community colleges are building the skills of the nation's workforce, helping bridge the digital divide and giving people a convenient and cost-effective way to pursue lifelong learning. More than 100,000 students at 245 community colleges in 41 states responded.