| Current Poll |
Should members of the LSU Board of Supervisors disclose who receives their scholarships?
View Results
|
|
Story Archives: May: Enrollment at community, technical colleges to grow 15 percent
- 2013 - 801 articles
- 2012 - 1954 articles
- 2011 - 2029 articles
- 2010 - 2139 articles
- 2009 - 2066 articles
- December 2009 - 163 articles
- November 2009 - 166 articles
- October 2009 - 231 articles
- September 2009 - 161 articles
- August 2009 - 136 articles
- July 2009 - 153 articles
- June 2009 - 126 articles
- May 2009 - 164 articles
- April 2009 - 242 articles
- March 2009 - 204 articles
- February 2009 - 163 articles
- February 28th, 2009 (Saturday) - 3 articles
- February 27th, 2009 (Friday) - 1 articles
- February 26th, 2009 (Thursday) - 28 articles
- February 25th, 2009 (Wednesday) - 10 articles
- February 24th, 2009 (Tuesday) - 3 articles
- February 23rd, 2009 (Monday) - 1 articles
- February 21st, 2009 (Saturday) - 4 articles
- February 19th, 2009 (Thursday) - 27 articles
- February 18th, 2009 (Wednesday) - 9 articles
- February 17th, 2009 (Tuesday) - 1 articles
- February 13th, 2009 (Friday) - 10 articles
- February 12th, 2009 (Thursday) - 12 articles
- February 11th, 2009 (Wednesday) - 10 articles
- February 10th, 2009 (Tuesday) - 4 articles
- February 5th, 2009 (Thursday) - 23 articles
- February 4th, 2009 (Wednesday) - 12 articles
- February 3rd, 2009 (Tuesday) - 5 articles
- January 2009 - 157 articles
- 2008 - 1757 articles
|
May: Enrollment at community, technical colleges to grow 15 percent
To better meet the workforce needs of the state, more people must be enrolled in Louisiana's community and technical colleges.
That's according to Dr. Joe May, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. May spoke Wednesday at the West Monroe Convention Center.
The community and technical college system has witnessed rapid growth over the years, and expects about a 15 percent growth in student enrollment this spring.
The community and technical college system is the fastest growing system in the state, May said, and it is the only system that has reached pre-Katrina numbers. The system has grown by 12,000 students over the past two years.
The current number of students enrolled in the system is around 60,000. However, May said that number needs to rise to at least 160,000 students to meet the state's workforce needs. He hopes to reach that number by 2013.
"The state's economy depends on at least half of all Louisiana students beginning college at a technical or community college," May said. "We think that is a good number and something that's achievable and worth striving for. We're looking at how we solve the challenges we face in the workforce, and how we get people the skills they need to get jobs right here in this community where they live. This means that technical and community colleges have become the primary access point. That's how people get in, and it can help solve a lot of problems. It allows people to leave here with skills whether they are going to work or transferring to a four-year university."
He said most young people believe the best path to success is through a four-year university. That is not always a perfect fit for many students, according to May.
"We've communicated to our young people that this is the only way to success, but unfortunately, that leaves about 80 percent behind," May said.
He said Louisiana is facing a major workforce crisis now. One in five adults in Louisiana has not finished high school, and too many college graduates from Louisiana are leaving the state, May said.
"The lack of a qualified workforce is the No. 1 reason given by companies for not locating in Louisiana," May said.
With the influx of technology in the workplace, May said at least 55 percent of all new jobs will require at least one to two years of education beyond high school.
"Virtually every area today requires some higher education, and we're just not getting enough folks into the pipeline to meet some of those demands that are out there," May said.
He said the system is working with the various school districts throughout the state to inform high school students what the technical and community colleges offer.
Getting more students to choose dual-enrollment is one way to show young people the benefits of a community or technical college. High school students who are dual-enrolled with a community or technical college will get job training and they also can earn college credit.
"We're really about getting struggling students into dual-enrollment and dual-credit programs at an earlier age," May said.
Due to a projected $2-billion shortfall in the state's 2009-10 fiscal year budget, funding cuts for higher education and healthcare are expected. When Gov. Bobby Jindal announced cuts to the current fiscal year budget in December, Louisiana's community and technical colleges were spared, May said.
"This decision was unprecedented and reflects a new direction in higher education and workforce policy," May said.
However, May expects cuts to the technical and community college system will occur when the Legislature meets this spring. It is not known how much in cuts the system will face.
"We're not really going to know until the end of the session," May explained. "We're not going to have a real good idea until June. We've been given the 30-percent range, but that doesn't really tell you anything.
"We know it's going to be something. We're not advocating: don't cut us. What we're saying is: let's prioritize and let's use dollars to solve these problems we have in the state. We think it means looking at it a little differently than 20 percent or 30 percent or whatever that chopping block is. Let's be strategic so we don't cut out training for the very people who have just been laid off in this community." |
|
|
E-mail Story
Print Story
