Enrollments Up, Funding Down

Community colleges tend to gain enrollments during hard economic times. With this particular recession, however, higher funding will not necessarily follow the students.

Two-year college educators all over the country are expressing concern over budget cuts to their programs, resulting in layoffs, reduced programs, and less innovation. A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (dated Jan. 23, subscription required), profiles several schools, and the picture is grim.

Here's a choice passage:

The downturn in the economy has coincided with enrollment increases at many community colleges. Meanwhile, several states have trimmed — or even chopped — appropriations for higher education. Florida, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Tennessee have each cut financing for 2009 by at least 5 percent, according to data compiled by the Center for the Study of Education Policy, at Illinois State University. Alabama and South Carolina have reduced allocations by more than 10 percent.

So far the outlook in Texas appears more optimistic than most states. The recent budget forecast from the Comptroller of Public Accounts was sobering, however. At least one commentator from Texas says that hard decisions may be on the horizon. From the Chronicle piece:

"Who's walking off the buses and subways and walking through our front doors, and what do they need?" says Mr. McClenney, a senior lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin's College of Education.

Community colleges, he believes, must do all they can to preserve high-demand courses. In other words, introductory English courses might stay while philosophy goes.

Mr. McClenney also says that when institutions must cut faculty and staff, they should consider each position carefully and avoid across-the-board reductions.

But how should colleges make decisions about priorities? In large public meetings, says Mr. McClenney.

"Fear emerges when times are tough," he says. "People worry about losing their sections; they worry about their jobs; they worry about being able to teach their favorite courses. So you have to involve them."