If early returns are any indication, Indiana's fledgling community college system may be the surest route yet to a more knowledgeable, skilled work force. Gov. Frank O'Bannon, an early proponent, said the system is exceeding expectations. In some instances, it is also exceeding available faculty and facilities, and there is a waiting list for enrollment in some areas.
Hopes are high that the state has found the solution to a longstanding problem.
It is seen in the loss of jobs when companies move out of state in search of more qualified workers and the loss of college-educated residents who follow them. Indiana should be better equipped to stem the economic drain as the new system matures. Established in 1999, Community College of Indiana combines Ivy Tech's technical programs with Vincennes University's liberal arts courses. Enrollment this fall is up 17 percent over last year, with programs in business, technology and nursing showing the largest increases. Among its big draws are more affordable tuition and flexible schedules to accommodate older, employed students.