Study recommends state community colleges make changes to follow student trends

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A study of Virginia's 23 community colleges is recommending they create a plan to adapt the systems for a future where less students attend class in person, and more look for career and technical education (CTE).

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) heard the findings Monday, Oct. 6, which recommend changes to VCCS operations to become more efficient.

According to the study, traditional enrollment is down 27% in the last 10 years. Enrollment in online classes has increased from 17% to 41% in that same period, while in-person enrollment fell from 39% to 11%.

The study found there was an increased interest in online courses, dual enrollment and CTE. Students generally looked for ways to reduce the cost of a college degree.

But for the colleges themselves, CTE programs cost double what Academic Transfer programs do. Those are courses that can transfer to a 4-year college or go toward earning an Associate's degree.

The study also noted a high interest in VCCS's FastForward program, which provides short-term training that prepares students for high-demand jobs in healthcare, information technology and other industries. The report found there was a median wage increase of $10,800 for students after completing a FastForward program.

"Mostly, in terms of the students on campus, it's not the low cost programs that are growing," said VCCS Chancellor Dr. David Doré on Monday. "Really the demand for Virginia is to grow the high cost programs."

The report said in the past, the cost difference between CTE and Academic Transfer was subsidized by excess revenue from Academic Transfer. But, as CTE enrollment increases, that model no longer works.

These changes have required VCCS to rely more on state funding, and the study found the trends may necessitate future funding changes.

To mitigate impacts of changing trends, VCCS has instituted periodic review of individual colleges, a shared services center and budget reductions by colleges facing revenue declines, including staff layoffs.

Chancellor Doré said he was prepared to make the necessary changes to serve students.

"Enrollment is not the goal," Doré said. "I would even argue that a credential is not even the goal. The goal for most everyone is a job."

"That align[s], with our credentials, with our degrees, really to the needs of Virginia," he said. "That's where the system is, frankly, in order to meet that need, [it's] going to experience some disequilibrium."

Doré said he agreed with all of the study's findings, including the need for a longer-term study to create a future plan for the state's community colleges.

The full report can be found on JLARC's website.