Thank you Research Scholarship Money was very appreciated and used wisely!

1. PERCEPTIONS OF ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS ON THE IMPACT OF THE U.S. ECONOMIC RECESSION AND STATE FINANCIAL PRESSURES ON PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

2. Presentedto the Illinois Council for Continuing Higher EducationonFebruary 10, 2012By Dr. Barry Hancock

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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.

7. Research Questions What are perceptions of administrators: • 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?

8. 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?

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Continuing Education: It’s History & Mission in Illinois Community Colleges • Current Issues Effecting Illinois Continuing Education Programs

13. CHAPTER 3RESEARCH PROCEDURES

14. Research Design • (Quantitative) Descriptive survey • (Qualitative) Interviews

15. Subjects • Surveyed all 48 community college presidents & continuing education program managers • Interviewed three presidents & three continuing education program managers

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

17. 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

18. Treatment of the Data • Percentages, frequencies, means • Recorded comments from interviews-recordings available • Figures, Tables and interview responses • Chi Square & cross tabulations

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Research Question 2 What 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

24. 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

25. Research Question 3 What 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.

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. Dissertation is available at: http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/381/

37. Questions?

38. Presentation by Dr. Barry Hancock, Associate Dean for Community EducationJohn A. Logan College