The weight of Harper College’s pewter Presidential Medallion is meant to remind those who wear it of the heavy burden running a school of 40,000 students.
But for the most current recipient, Harper’s newest president, Kenneth Ender, the weight for him is something more, he said.
At Ender’s formal installation last week, community college presidents paraded in cap and gowns and politicians and educational leaders congratulated him in a 90-minute ceremony on the Palatine campus.
Harper’s fifth president in its 44-year history took a more somber tact in his speech compared to the jovial festivities.
Ender has said the almost 1,200 community college presidents like himself are at crossroads.
A high school diploma used to mean employment after graduation but now more than ever some sort of post-secondary education is required as the evolving economy demands a skilled labor force, he said
It’s likely community colleges will be expected to fill a void for its 11.7 million students, especially after a $12 billion federal community college initiative was announced earlier this year.
That challenge is exactly what Ender will be grappling with during his tenure at Harper, he said.
“What we have is a great result – the creation a great 20th century community college,” Ender said. “What we are all trying to figure out what is a great 21st Century Community College.”
Challenge for the future
The American Association of Community Colleges offers a snapshot into the current state of community colleges: Almost half of undergraduates in the U.S. attend a community college. Forty percent are full time. The average age is 29. Almost 60 percent are women and nearly 40 percent are the first generation to attend college. Average tuition is about $2,400 compared with about $6,600 for a 4-year public institution, according to the association.
In June, community colleges came to the educational forefront after President Barack Obama announced a $12-billion initiative to pump money into community colleges, which is designed to boost high school and college graduation rates.
The new federal push has been on the horizon for quite some time, said James Rosenbaum, Northwestern University’s professor of education and social policy.
“A generation ago, community colleges started out as minor element,” Rosenbaum said. “But now they are becoming a big deal.”
The reason for the shift has to do with the demands of the economy, which continues to quickly transition toward a more educated labor force with specialized skills, Rosenbaum said. Health care and information technology are major sectors that are developing rapidly, but to be part of those fields requires serious skills that a high school education can’t offer, he said. A lot of high schoolers don’t like school, preferring to finish and then look for work, but this tactic will likely to fail, leading to one low-paying, dead-end job after another, he said.
Community colleges provide education past high school, like a certificate or associates degree, which students will need if they want any economic stability, he said.
“Society does a bad job warning students what they need,” Rosenbaum, said. “Some kids don’t like school, but they are coming to terms that some college is necessary.
Harper’s role
Ender said he’s well aware of how the economy continues to change education. At 59, he’s committing at least 10 years to Harper where he’ll attempt to address the challenge, he said.
One of solution is for community colleges to work more closely with high schools and colleges. The school will work more closely with local high schools, encouraging students to take college level courses at Harper.
The school will continue to partner with universities to provide 4-year degrees, Ender said.
Through Northern Illinois University, Harper provides a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Just last month, Harper announced the addition of another applied management for students, who are pursuing careers in law enforcement and firefighting.
At Ender’s previous community college, Cumberland County College in New Jersey, the school offered bachelor’s and master’s programs through university partnerships.
Another solutions for community colleges to fill the void will be to provide a broader range of educational opportunities that students might not immediately consider.
Ender points to mechatronic skills, which combines engineering, electronics and computers in the manufacturing field. It can be applied to a variety of other fields, including automotive, pharmaceutical and printing.
Also, community colleges will not be just for younger people, he said. Years ago, a high school diplomas was enough, but now older adults are finding out they need more.
“They find themselves in a situation that they never dreamed of,” Ender said. “These people had jobs. They did everything right, but it wasn’t enough. The 50-plus crowd will be another huge market.”
-Story by Sue Ter Maat, Triblocal.com reporter