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State colleges facing crisis over enrollment
DuBois details community college system's goalsDate published: 2/17/2004
By KRISTIN DAVIS
Unless Virginia community colleges do more, hospitals will close, police and fire departments will be understaffed and cars won't get fixed. That was the message from the leader of the Virginia Community College System, who visited Germanna's Fredericksburg-area campus yesterday. VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois predicted that rising tuition, jobs vacated by retiring baby boomers, and a shortage of resources at community colleges could result in these dire circumstances. "Think about what you have at stake," DuBois told a packed audience of GCC instructors, administrators and students. For instance, many qualified people already are turned away from nursing programs at community colleges across the state simply because there aren't the space or the teachers for them, he said. To combat this, DuBois has created a plan called "Dateline 2009: A Strategic Direction." The proposal outlines seven goals he hopes will prepare community colleges for the end of the decade. They include maintaining enrollment, keeping tuition low and expanding offerings. "We need to recognize the enrollment crisis," DuBois said. The top reason students drop out today, he said, is because they don't feel connected. Many leave to attend private career colleges, where classes are small, streamlined and much more expensive. "There is a challenge for us now," DuBois said of these private institutions. His proposal also calls for more focus on attracting transfer students and "dual-enrollment" students, high-schoolers who get college credit at community colleges. DuBois also said the system should make sure tuition never exceeds half the cost of a university, DuBois said. "Our tuition still remains the best in town," he said. To keep it that way, the VCCS must seek donations from local businesses and residents. "The return is so vast, it's impossible to put a price tag on it," DuBois said. A high-school education is not enough to make it in today's society, he added. Community colleges can provide training for a better career and, ultimately, a better life, DuBois explained. Germanna President Frank Turnage voiced his support for the chancellor's proposal. More than 362,000 students attended Virginia community colleges during 2002. DuBois estimated that in the next five years, that number could increase by 25,000. "Will we be ready?" he asked. To reach KRISTIN DAVIS: 540/368-5028 kdavis@freelancestar.com
Date published: 2/17/2004
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