About the Speakers

Dr. Cynthia Wilson
​Vice President for Learning and Chief Impact Officer at League for Innovation in the Community College

Dr. Rufus Glasper
​President and CEO at League for Innovation in the Community College

Lee Lambert
​Chancellor at Pima Community College

Pandemic Has Caused Unprecedented Turmoil

Fact/Predictions:

• Majority of students live close to a community college
• Students stay closer to home
• Students unhappy with options at 4-year colleges
• Lack of expected bump from the recession

Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, August 17, 2020

Community College Enrollment Plummets

A lost generation

• 9.4% drop in enrollment this fall compared to fall 2019
• 9 times the pre-pandemic loss rate
• Number of freshmen dropped most drastically at 22.7%
• 2-year institutions saw the biggest enrollment declines among all types

Community College Daily 12/2/20

Innovative/Effective/Promising Methods

• Future for Frontliners free tuition scholarship program
• Returning Citizen Initiative
• Transfer and articulation partners
• Transfer is Workforce Development
• The increased awareness, inclusion, and definition of undergraduate STEM

Key Component in Nation’s Economic Health

• The Indispensable Institution:  Reimagining Community College
  • Millions will need quick job-focused upskilling and reskilling
  • In-demand skills are changing faster than traditional academic program approval

Opportunity America, June 2020

• Prioritization of socioeconomic diversity, equity, and inclusion into the vision and goals of undergraduate STEM education programs

• COVID-19 impacted workers find immediate in-demand jobs
  • Digital workforce training and reskilling
  • Retraining