Community Colleges Embrace ESL
Community colleges are a vital part of our postsecondary education delivery system. They serve almost half of all undergraduate students in the United States, providing open access to postsecondary education, preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions, providing workforce development and skills training, and offering noncredit programs ranging from English as a second language to skills retraining to community enrichment programs or cultural activities.
Since globalization is driving changes in our economy, the need for an educated workforce has never been greater. The majority of new jobs that will be created by 2014 will require some postsecondary education. And as a result of changing workforce demographics, employers increasingly rely on the very students who currently are least likely to complete their education.
