Access to education is crucial for everyone, especially in rural areas where community colleges often serve as key institutions for learning and growth. However, these colleges face challenges as enrollment has declined over the past 15 years, attributed to skepticism about higher education’s value. Reductions in federal aid further strain these colleges, emphasizing the need for them to enhance educational delivery.
Enhancing delivery won’t suffice for community colleges to regain trust and increase enrollment and investment. They must evolve into rural development hubs, integrating economic, social, and civic sectors to tackle regional issues. With their established role in communities, rural colleges can uniquely address complex challenges by developing talent and boosting economic opportunities.
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These three lessons from successful rural community colleges highlight how others can become development hubs:
1. Prioritize regional economy over short-term enrollment
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College revamped its agriculture curriculum to include drone and GPS skills, meeting employer demands and boosting student wages. This college also created a transfer pathway for elementary education, addressing teacher shortages and offering higher-wage jobs. Though costly initially, these changes promise long-term regional benefits.
2. Forge strong connections with community partners
Effective rural development leaders build trust by collaborating with employers, educators, and community organizations. This ensures solutions that truly benefit the community. Georgia Highlands College exemplifies this by partnering with Atrium Health to address a shortage of healthcare workers, securing funding for nursing education and scholarships. Graduates commit to local healthcare work, enriching community health and economy.
Related: Is leveraging the entire community the key to college success for rural kids?
The college also obtained funding to link high school students to programs leading to well-paying jobs. Collaborations with schools and health systems address workforce needs and support student success.
3. Develop talent and leadership pipelines
Rural colleges cultivate future civic leaders by investing in local capacity and youth leadership. Wallace State Community College in Alabama aligns programs to regional economic needs, preparing students for in-demand jobs in various sectors. The college president, a first-generation graduate, collaborates with K-12 schools to showcase college benefits, providing early exposure to STEM and career skills, ensuring continuous engagement through high school.
By adopting these strategies, rural community colleges can boost enrollments and strengthen regional trust, benefitting students and communities alike.
Bonita Robertson-Hardy is co-executive director of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group. Josh Wyner is the founder and executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.
Contact the opinion editor at opinion@hechingerreport.org.
This story about rural community colleges was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit news organization focused on education. Sign up for Hechinger’s weekly newsletter.
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