During their first century, community colleges responded adroitly to the demands of the times. When World War II veterans using the GI Bill packed campuses at the same time industries needed skilled workers to convert from armaments to consumer goods, community colleges added workforce training to their academic repertoire. When the optimism of the 1960s made education the preferred method of remedying social inequities, hundreds of community colleges were built to accommodate new students.
Technology is the driving force behind the newest test of community colleges' agility.
Technological advances make it possible for people to live longer. As the overall population increases, community college enrollment is expected to grow, and the colleges will likely confer more associate degrees. Technological innovations in the workplace are expected to continue to fuel enrollment by people seeking training or skills upgrade. Distance learning technologies may increase community colleges' capacity without massive new building projects. Technology also may help accommodate enrollment growth, but it is not the total solution.