1. 2018 Survey of Community College Presidents
An Inside Higher Ed webcast
Tuesday, May 22
2 p.m. Eastern

2. Presenters
Scott Jaschik, editor, Inside Higher Ed
Doug Lederman, editor, Inside Higher Ed

3. Methodology
Survey questions were drafted by Inside Higher Ed in collaboration with Gallup.
Responses received from 177 presidents or chancellors.
Responses are completely confidential.
Survey was in field in January and February of

4. Enrollment Woes Enrollment, Compared to 3 Years Ago Down 10% or more
17%
Down 5% to 10%
26%
Down less than 5%
14%
Stable
20% Up
22%

5. Could the Enrollment Declines Be Worse Than Numbers Suggest?

6. Strategies to Recruit More Students
Strategy
Enrollment Down
Enrollment Stable or Up
Adding new programs
77%
86%
Making it easier to transfer to 4-year colleges
75%
73%
Adding online programs
68%
Increasing marketing budgets
67%
44%
Keep tuition flat or cut tuition
32%
19%

7. Free Community College
87% of presidents anticipate additional expansion of free community college efforts.
76% say that free community college movement is having a positive impact on community colleges.

8. Issues Associated With Free
Will states provide the money to offset lost tuition revenue?
Can idea expand beyond traditional college- age students?
Are states attaching the right requirements?

9. Skepticism on Free Tuition for Four-Year Public Colleges
The adoption of free four-year public tuition …
Helps community colleges a lot 3%
Helps community colleges a little
14%
Has no effect on community colleges 4%
Hurts community colleges a little
35%
Hurts community colleges a lot
44%

10. Barriers to Transfer Very significant Somewhat significant
Not very significant
Not significant
Lack of clear pathways
42%
48% 9% 1%
Lack of academic advising
24%
51%
21% 3%
Lack of interest (publics)
25%
22% 4%
Lack of interest (privates)
23%
44%
10%
Unwilling to accept transfer credit (publics)
29%
31%
14%
Unwilling to accept transfer credit (privates)
15%
41%
28%
16%
Lack of student interest 8%
45%
34%
13%
Lack of programs
33%
40%

11. Success vs. Rigor
41% agree that pressure to show dramatic gains in graduation rates creates incentives to cut corners.
57% agree that some “completion agenda” reforms may not result in improved teaching and learning.
10% said their college has taken steps to improve completion rates that may not result in improved learning outcomes.

12. Future of the Presidency
28% report that they are impressed with pool of potential community college presidents.
45% say that there are not enough female candidates.
68% say that there are not enough minority candidates.

13. Issues on the Horizon
Online education in light of California proposals
Trump criticism of community colleges
Proposals on apprenticeships
(We’ll probably be asking about these next year.)

14. Q&A
Your questions
Ideas for coverage

15. With Thanks …