It is more important than ever for businesses and workers to save community colleges by utilizing internet resources to assist instructors and students in thriving.
Community colleges play a vital role in refilling the labor pool as firms of all sizes and sectors struggle to locate skilled personnel. Unfortunately, community colleges across the country have seen a half-million students drop out in the previous two years, resulting in a severe reduction in enrollment. Simultaneously, states and municipal governments have been compelled to make considerable budget cuts to these organizations, which are cash-strapped in the aftermath of the pandemic. It is more important than ever for businesses and employees to save these community institutions by discovering new ways to help their teachers and students succeed.
According to a recent research by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, states dropped financial support for two-year colleges by $457 million in fiscal year 2021, while funding for four-year institutions declined by only $63 million. These changes, combined with a significant drop in student enrollment, have worsened a funding shortage that had been plaguing community colleges even before Covid-19.
Community colleges lack critical resources
Professors who work as adjuncts have been particularly heavily struck. Even before state and municipal budget cuts, adjunct instructors at community colleges made between $20,000 and $25,000 per year, with about a quarter of them relying on government aid. According to the American Federation of Teachers, another 40% had problems affording basic household needs.
These professors do not receive the same benefits as full-time faculty, in addition to low income. Many teachers aren't paid for the time they spend helping their pupils excel outside of the classroom. Adjunct faculty members at community colleges are frequently obliged to hold office hours on their own time and without pay, putting both teachers and students at a disadvantage.
Adjunct academics aren't the only ones that suffer. Instructors at community colleges have funding constraints that professors at four-year institutions do not have to deal with. Take, for example, remedial education. To get a degree, almost 60% of community college students must take at least one remedial course, yet many colleges lack the resources to fully provide this fundamental skills education.
Community colleges also lack many of the essential resources available at four-year institutions, such as support personnel, counselors, mental-health services, librarians, and tutors.
Online learning tools can assist in bridging the gap
Online tools are one method to alleviate these pressures. Online-learning tools like Chegg, Enter To Study, and Khan Academy, which are both inexpensive and time-saving, assist not only students but also academics with limited resources and time restrictions. Community college students can use these resources to get the same help that students at better-funded institutions get through office hours and on-campus tutors.
Unfortunately, some professors and administrators see these technologies as a way for students to avoid traditional study rather than as sources of extra assistance. The truth is that most students use these platforms throughout the year to receive help with their most difficult subjects when their professors are unable to provide further support. Community college professors are already overworked, and restricting tools that could relieve some of the burden just makes their jobs more difficult.
Community college teachers, unlike most typical four-year academics, serve a diverse population of students with varying academic skills and needs – and these kids will be the future of our profession. To make matters worse, many of these two-year institutions are severely underfunded, leaving community colleges with insufficient resources to assist students in their academic pursuits. According to TechMag online technologies have the potential to transform our nation's two-year colleges, and I'm optimistic that their use will become more widespread among students and teachers, allowing businesses to recruit the people they require to develop and thrive.
Top comments (1)
I don't believe that college schools lack resources for students to help them learn. In fact, here in the Philippines, some students have developed incredible systems with the help of their college schools. One of the well-known schools in the Philippines, CIIT Philippines, produces competitive students in terms of multimedia arts and technology. Furthermore, they are known for having an excellent computer science course.