As economy improves, fewer seek community college degrees - Jessie Balmert, Chillecothe Gazette

As the demand for skilled labor increases, one might think the demand for educating skilled laborers would follow suit. However, that’s not the case at Ohio’s community colleges. Enrollment has dropped 18.5 percent in the past five years — more than 38,000 students — and 5.4 percent between fall 2013 and fall 2014 alone, according to the Ohio Board of Regents preliminary enrollment estimates. Enrollment at Ohio University’s Chillicothe campus has declined 20.2 percent since 2010 — about 470 students — and dropped 2.6 percent between fall 2013 and fall 2014. The change from fall 2013 was less severe than the statewide drop in regional campuses’ enrollment of 4 percent. http://www.chillicothegazette.com/story/news/local/2014/11/23/economy-improves-fewer-seek-community-college-degrees/19394767/