| Adults and young adults are reportedly setting out | | | | incentives, such as a Post-9/11 GI Bill, are encouraging |
| for career training at a time when unemployment | | | | people to return to school, according to the Great |
| rates are high, the economy is sluggish and record | | | | Lakes IT Report. |
| numbers of students are completing high school. | | | | Looking ahead to 2018, a Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| What many are finding is that the flexibility of | | | | report suggests that occupations requiring that |
| distance college is allowing them to get their college | | | | employees have some higher education are expected |
| degrees online as they continue their life obligations. | | | | to experience higher rates of growth than those that |
| Community colleges that offer associate degrees are | | | | call for on-the-job training. Occupations requiring an |
| experiencing growth and soaring enrollments online | | | | associate degree are anticipated to grow fastest, the |
| and on campus. Several are targeting programs to | | | | report shows. Among the fastest growing |
| local business needs and worldwide 21st century | | | | occupations requiring an associate degree or less are |
| demands, according to reports. | | | | those that, in 2008, saw median annual earnings of |
| Some 3.1 million young adults ages 18 to 24 were | | | | $19,180 to $46,140. These would include home health, |
| enrolled in community college in October 2007, a | | | | home care and physical therapy aides, dental |
| number that by 2008 climbed to 3.4 million, the Pew | | | | hygienists, veterinary technicians and dental, medical |
| Research Center reported. In Rhode Island, the | | | | and physical therapy assistants, according to the |
| state's community college is experiencing what it calls | | | | report. |
| its second highest enrollment in its history, the | | | | Rhode Island's community college is working to help |
| Providence Journal reported. In Michigan, community | | | | prepare students for current and future job demands |
| college enrollment accounts for 44 percent of all U.S. | | | | locally and statewide, the Providence Journal noted. In |
| college enrollments, according to a WWJ Radio Great | | | | Kentucky, a business publication known as the Lane |
| Lakes IT Report. | | | | Report in May told of a growing college program that |
| Online enrollment at community colleges alone | | | | breaks down barriers to higher education by bringing |
| accounts for more than half of all online course | | | | classes to students, in some instances at their place |
| enrollments in the past five years, according to a | | | | of work. The program, which is considered |
| Sloan Consortium report cited in a February edition of | | | | accelerated, allows students to earn an associate |
| Community College Review. | | | | degree in as few as 20 months, the Lane Report |
| Community colleges cost less than four-year public | | | | noted. |
| and private colleges and they tend to see enrollment | | | | The length of time associated with working toward a |
| increases as the economy worsens, the Pew | | | | degree can affect the number of people who obtain |
| Research Center noted. But this new enrollment peak | | | | them, according to an expert cited in an article in the |
| comes at a time when a record proportion of young | | | | May/June edition of Washington Monthly. The article |
| adults have graduated high school or completed an | | | | told of a community college system in Tennessee, |
| equivalency test, when dropout rates are low and | | | | where technology centers offering one-year |
| when unemployment is the highest it's been in more | | | | certificate programs in high demand fields boast |
| than a quarter of a century, according to the | | | | strong graduation rates and offer job placement |
| research center. Additionally, displaced workers are | | | | services that produce positive results. |
| setting out to change careers, and new government | | | | |