In March, the world changed. COVID-19 hit the nation, impacting the health, economic security, and way of life of many Americans. Education also was severely disrupted. The traditional model of much of higher education is simply at odds with the reality of the pandemic.
With so much at stake, it would be wise to consider what the nation’s public community and technical colleges have to offer for students, workers, and the economy.
Community colleges have been leaders in crisis response throughout our history. Because they emphasize affordability, flexible education delivery, and connections to local communities and regional economies, community colleges are well positioned to provide Americans with access to postsecondary education and prepare them for work. That is why, especially in times of economic downturn, government, communities, and families ought to look to community colleges as engines of recovery.
As community college practitioners serving on JFF’s Policy Leadership Trust, we offer five reasons why community colleges are the right choice at this time, and why investments and policies that support our institutions are essential to combatting the public health and economic crises triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.