(WEBWIRE – Sunday, April 05, 2009) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Move over 18-year-old high school students. There’s a new student on campus, and she might be your mom. A new survey by the Plus 50 Initiative at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) finds that community colleges are reaching out to students over the age of 50 and planning to expand programs for them.
Eighty-four percent of the 204 community colleges participating in the survey reported that their institutions offer programs for students over the age of 50. Ninety-three percent of these colleges perceive a demand for this type of programming – predominantly from people age 50 and up in their community, but from business and community organizations as well.
Many community colleges reported that they plan to expand their offerings for plus 50 students. Seventy percent of colleges offering enrichment courses for plus 50 students said that they plan to expand their offerings. Half of the 14 percent that do not currently have enrichment offerings for baby boomers plan to add them in the future.
The results came as no surprise to George R. Boggs, AACC President and CEO. "Community colleges have a long history of reaching out to non-traditional students and structuring programs to meet immediate community needs. It’s heartening to see so many colleges throwing a lifeline to plus 50 students coping with a difficult job market during distressing economic times"
With plunging retirement accounts forcing them to stay on the job into what have traditionally been retirement years, baby boomers are increasingly turning to community colleges for help refreshing their workplace skills and job training.
(Read the entire article.)
Tags: colleges and universities, economy, skills, training
Categories: News