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 PERCEPTIONS OF ILLINOIS

COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS ON THE

IMPACT OF THE U.S. ECONOMIC RECESSION AND

STATE FINANCIAL PRESSURES ON PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

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PRESENTEDTO THE

ILLINOIS COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING HIGHER

EDUCATIONON

FEBRUARY 10, 2012BY

DR. BARRY HANCOCK

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Thank you Research Scholarship Money was very appreciated

and used wisely! Timeline for Presentation Study brought continuing education into spotlight Will be presenting similar scholarship proposal to

Illinois Council for Community College Administrators

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Chapter 1Introduction and Nature of the

Study The U.S. Economic Recession Financial Pressures & Higher Education Illinois Financial Challenges Community Colleges & their Adult &

Continuing Education Programs

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Problem Statement CE Programs need to be examined-state

fiscal problems, recession, institutional prioritization

Baby Boomers, more CE for state workforce

How are community college leaders positioning their continuing education programs in order to better serve their districts/communities?

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Purpose of the Study

To better understand how Illinois community college continuing education programs are delivered & how they assist their institutions to fulfill the needs of their district residents.

To examine the perceptions of administrators with respect to the future of continuing education in the face of increasing financial pressures.

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Research Questions

with respect to the impact of financial pressures affecting the future of continuing education departments?

with respect to the financial pressures affecting the future of administration & delivery of continuing education?

What are perceptions of administrators:

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with respect to the financial pressures affecting the future of programs in continuing education?

with respect to whether there were significant differences between respondents position, location & type of college & their perceptions of fiscal, administrative & programmatic issues affecting the future of continuing education departments?

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Significance of the Study

Taxpayers support community colleges & expect relevant & quality programs/courses

More students, less state funding More research needed on continuing education

Depts. Increasing number of adults wanting classes People are living longer More continuing education required for state

workforce One of five main criteria for NCA

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Limitations/Delimitations

Size of institution may effect administrators views on continuing education

Administrators experience in system may effect views on continuing education

Some administrators may have been reluctant to respond

Study only done in Illinois

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CHAPTER 2REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The Community College Movement Joins Higher Education

Illinois Community Colleges Play a Substantial Role in Higher Education

Adult Learning & Its Relevance to Continuing Education

The Inclusion of Continuing Education in the Community Colleges

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Continuing Education: It’s History & Mission in Illinois Community Colleges

Current Issues Effecting Illinois Continuing Education Programs

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CHAPTER 3RESEARCH PROCEDURES

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Research Design

(Quantitative) Descriptive survey (Qualitative) Interviews

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Subjects

Surveyed all 48 community college presidents & continuing education program managers

Interviewed three presidents & three continuing education program managers

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Instrumentation Self report survey on Survey Monkey Jury of experts Pilot test Approval from SIU Human Subjects

Dept.

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Data Collection Procedures

Cover letter & survey went out electronically via Survey Monkey

Had Support community college leaders-Presidents Council, ICCET, ICCEDA, ICCHE

Conducted interviews with administrators

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Treatment of the Data

Percentages, frequencies, means Recorded comments from interviews-

recordings available Figures, Tables and interview responses Chi Square & cross tabulations

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FindingsResearch Question 1

What were the perceptions of Illinois community college administrators with respect to the impact of financial pressures affecting the future of continuing

education departments? Most institutions allocate funds to the CE

dept. using internal budgeting process Respondents said budgets decreasing Many respondents have seen decreases in

their enrollments Many respondents indicated seeing

enrollment increases

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22% of presidents & 36% of the CEPMs have had to lay off employees

1/3 of respondents have reduced the number of course offerings at their institutions

Respondents said their colleges offered courses which don’t meet profit expectations

Tuition & fees, state grants & state appropriations are primary sources of revenue for CE programs

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Most respondents felt their institutions provided adequate financial support

44% of presidents & 30% of CEPMs felt the number of course offerings at their institutions were adversely affected by the state funding changes in the 1990s

20% of respondents indicated state funding is adequate

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Approx. 1/3 of respondents didn’t feel fiscal pressures caused staff or programs to be reduced or eliminated

Most respondents indicated that only 1-10% of their institutions budget went to the CE unit

Several respondents indicated they didn’t have a senior citizens waiver policy

Non-credit CE programs are often the first to go during difficult times

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Research Question 2What were the perceptions of Illinois

community college administrators with respect to the financial pressures affecting the future of administration and delivery of continuing education?

Respondents disagreed that their CE dept. has adequate classroom space available

Respondents were in agreement their CE units have adequate office space

Respondents were in agreement CE functions are adequately staffed with administrators

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43% of CEPMs & 28% of presidents felt there CE depts. were inadequately staffed with support personnel

Approx. ¼ of respondents don’t feel their CE depts. are prepared for the baby-boomer generation

Interview data indicated that staff are not being let go, but words i.e. . . merging & streamlining resources, focusing on vital services were heard often

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Research Question 3What were the perceptions of Illinois

community college administrators with respect to the financial pressures affecting the future

of programs in continuing education?

48% of presidents & 33% of CEPMs indicated they have seen increases in students taking non-credit classes & programs

CE depts. are made up primarily of non-credit, vocational skills, workforce & corporate education classes

ACT Centers, GED/ABE/ASE programs, Welfare-to-Work programs & Illinois Worknet Centers are least likely to be found in CE depts.

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CE programs are designed to meet the needs of the community which are not being met by other parts of the college or the community

Increases in enrollment were attributed primarily to the senior citizen population (primarily the baby-boomers)

Enrollment decreases attributed to staff leaving & responsibilities being consolidated, not as many non-credit courses being offered & people don’t have as much discretionary money available

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Partnerships & online learning were seen as challenges to CE programming

More of an emphasis now on vocational skills classes which generate credit hours & CEUs

Board of trustee members do not always look favorably on non-credit classes during difficult economic times

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Research Question 4: Were there significant differences

between respondents position, location and type of college and their perceptions regarding

the fiscal, administrative and programmatic issues affecting the future of continuing

education departments?

A statistically significant difference was found between the respondents:

position & whether they agreed continuing education departments receive adequate classroom space

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location (suburban, rural, urban) & whether their institution is adequately prepared to address the influx of students from the baby-boomer generation

(by type of college-single or multi campus, multi-district) & whether their institutions CE department is adequately staffed with administrators

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Conclusions Courses which don’t meet profit

expectations should continue to be offered Since primary funding sources are

unreliable, might pursue secondary, grant sources

CE budgets reduced, ½ say enrollment increasing & streamlining resources

Majority of colleges allocate 1-10% of budget to CE depts., yet approx. 35% of states students enrolled in CE depts.

Difficulty obtaining best CEPM for study

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Conclusions Statistically significant difference (by location) between

respondents with respect to preparations for baby-boomers-rural colleges less prepared

Survey showed many colleges don’t offer waivers for senior citizens

About 20% of respondents not sure if CE in institution mission statement

Data showed trustees don’t have a good understanding of CE programs & 75% of presidents don’t have CE background

Statistically significant difference between respondents with respect to adequacy of classroom space for CE programs

Without additional state resources, additional emphasis on CE programs is unlikely

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Recommendations-General

State associations use as guide to clarify role of CE Identify & pursue secondary sources of funding Allocate more institutional dollars to CE programs Increase eligibility for senior waivers to 65 years

old College employees need to know their institutions

mission statement Study should be distributed statewide ICCB should assist colleges in determining if

classes credit or non-credit

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Recommendations for Presidents

Need to communicate the value of continuing education with their trustees

Should list CEPMs in the ICCCA Directory

Should see that efforts are made to expand programs for senior citizens

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Recommendations for CEPMs

Need to communicate better with presidents & communities

Package & advertise encore classes for seniors

Form more partnerships with local agencies, organizations & with online providers

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Recommendations for further research

Conduct survey with stakeholders in the state

Only focus on non-credit or credit part of CE dept

See if statistical significance on some of other survey questions

Get a better selection of CEPMs Examine data from the location of the

college in more detail

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Dissertation is available at:

http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/381/

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Questions?

PRESENTATION BY

DR. BARRY HANCOCK, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE