Community Colleges Change Lives and Improve the Economy
RALEIGH, NC – When Dianne Johnson, a single mother with four children, lost her manufacturing job, she descended into a period of despair.
But Johnson found a way to turn her life around at her local community college.
"Changes were made in my life I had no control over," said Johnson. "I went from providing for my family, to no way to make a living."
Johnson went to Central Carolina Community College where a counselor helped her determine a course of action that would literally turn her life around. She entered the Medical Assisting program at the community college and worked part time while she continued to care for her family. Johnson said she had to learn how to study and manage her time, but she had lots of support from the college.
"They pushed me, they helped me, they encouraged me." She made straight "A’s" every semester and will graduate in April, already employed at a local family practice office.
"My community college changed my life drastically. I now have a passion for life, I have a job, and I have insurance!" said Johnson. She feels the dollars invested in the North Carolina Community College System have paid dividends for her and she is now able to take care of her family and pay taxes.
Stories like Johnson’s are duplicated thousands of times across the state. And according to an independent study released today, North Carolina community colleges return significantly more to the state’s economy than they take out.
As part of the system’s comprehensive response to state lawmakers’ requests for increased educational accountability, the NC Association of Community College Presidents worked with NCCCS to commission the study in October 2004 to measure the performance of the statewide community college system, college by college, throughout the state. The study documents the actual dollar impact of the community colleges from three important economic perspectives:
1) Impact on students
2) Return on investment to taxpayers
3) Contribution to the North Carolina communities it serves.
Governor Mike Easley commented in a prepared statement, "This study demonstrates the tangible results of our ongoing commitment to improve the lives of our people by supporting our strong Community College System. Our investments in our knowledge, skill and talent by providing educational opportunity will pay off in the global economy."
The report was unveiled today, January 18, at a briefing Building hosted by Rep. Joe Tolson (D- Edgecombe) at the Legislative Building. "Community colleges are doing a great job for the State of North Carolina," said Tolson. "Our state is drastically changing and the tremendous needs of our displaced workers are being met by our community colleges."
System President H. Martin Lancaster shared some impressive numbers. Higher wage earnings are a direct outcome of investment for community college graduates. For every dollar a student invests in North Carolina’s community colleges, there is an 18.6% annual rate of return. Stated differently, for every dollar invested by a student they will receive $4.24 back in future, higher earnings. Few investments offer students this level of return.
Lancaster offered similar figures for dollars invested by the State of North Carolina. For every dollar invested by the state, the state’s taxpayers receive a 16.8% annual rate of return. Every dollar of state and local tax money invested in North Carolina community colleges by taxpayers generates a return of $2.74 in direct state and local tax receipts (over the next 30 years). This is especially noteworthy in light of the fact that often state governments undertake activities needed by the public, but which are unprofitable in the marketplace.
"The Community College System provides opportunity, affordability, accessibility and versatility to accommodate the needs of our businesses, workforce, and our citizens interested in higher education and lifelong learning," said Sen. Walter Dalton (D-Rutherford) in a prepared statement. "We must continue to build upon the solid foundation it gives in order to have a ready workforce for the future."
According to the study, North Carolina community colleges account for $1.4 billion in the North Carolina economy (equal to approximately 52,000 jobs).
President Lancaster predicted the economic impact of community colleges will continue to grow. "I'm proud of those numbers. But I am much more impressed with what those numbers represent. It's our job to work with you to guarantee that the promises we made together four years ago become promises kept for the millions of North Carolinians who voted with their dollars to support community colleges."
This comprehensive study, prepared by CCbenefits, a highly-respected national economic research firm, is entitled the Socioeconomic Impact Model (SEIM). It measures the economic contribution of each of the 58 colleges in NCCCS and the collective contribution of the system as a whole. The findings of the study reinforced the value many citizens and leaders intuitively felt inherent in NCCCS but had previously not measured.
The North Carolina Community College System is the state’s primary provider of workforce training, adult education and literacy programs. The System’s 59 institutions enroll more than 800,000 adults. For details about this release and the overall work of the system, contact the Public Affairs Office in Raleigh, 919-807-6962.
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