Credit and Non-Credit Community College Enrollment and the Economy.
2005; Volume: 11; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1081-9428
Autores Tópico(s)Higher Education Research Studies
ResumoThough studies have been conducted to find out the effect of unemployment on credit enrollment in community colleges, none have been done to find the effect of unemployment on non-credit enrollment The present study explores the following question: the economy is on a downward curve, does non-credit enrollment decrease and credit enrollment increase?. The economic indicator in the study is Michigan's unemployment rate. Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan, provided current and past enrollment figures for 1986 to 2002, which were compared against the unemployment rate for the same years. Analysis showed a strong negative correlation between Michigan's unemployment rate and the enrollment in non-credit classes. No statistically significant correlation was found between Michigan's unemployment rate and enrollment for credit classes. The purpose of the study is to assist community colleges in better understanding general enrollment patterns for credit and non-credit classes and to help with planning and forecasting class offerings. Introduction Since enrollment in community colleges fluctuates for both credit and non-credit classes, studies have been conducted to find why the fluctuations occur in credit classes and if is any relationship to the economy. However, studies have not attempted to find the effect of the economy on non-credit enrollment. According to Sherry Zylka (2003), Associate Dean of Continuing Education Services, Schoolcraft College, Within the non-credit class community had always been anecdotal information about how non-credit enrollments were impacted by the economy. In good economic times it was thought that enrollment would be up and during an economic downturn, noncredit enrollment would decrease. The enrollment in non-credit programs at Schoolcraft College reflects such a pattern. When researching previous studies which would document the phenomenon, none could be uncovered. This project originated to document or to dispel the perception of non-credit enrollment fluctuations as a function of the economy. Credit classes have been defined as traditional and nontraditional while non-credit classes have been defined as Continuing Education Services (CES) or Lifetime Learning classes. Review of literature Published data shows that when the economy is good, enrollment in credit classes decreases because people are working and do not see a need to seek a college degree. Conversely, noncredit enrollment increases because people have more discretionary money, and they are looking for leisure-related activities or certification options to maintain or upgrade their existing positions without the commitment of a college degree. Community colleges report locally when their enrollment is up, letting taxpayers know that the college is fulfilling the obligation to provide higher education. In 2002, Giegerich states that Norma Kent, a spokesperson for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), said that many schools are reporting double digit enrollment increases this past year. Barmak Nassirian, a policy analyst with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, reports in the article by Giegerich that a recession tends to inflate college enrollment. Lansing Community College in Michigan reports in the Lansing Community College Results Inventory 2001-02 that its 1999-2000 enrollment was 2.9% higher than in 1995-1996. It also reports that statewide enrollment fell by approximately 2.6% over the same period. The report goes on to declare that there is no competitive data available for other community colleges at this time (Lansing Community College, 2001). Unfortunately, the report does not separate credit from non-credit enrollment. In 1995, January showed a Michigan unemployment rate of 5.4% and ended the year with a rate of 5%. For 1999, January was 4.1% and December ended with 3.4% (U.S. Department of Labor, 2002). …
Referência(s)