blog post Testimony: Enrollment Declines in California Community Colleges By Olga Rodriguez Nov 14, 2022 For a hearing of Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance, PPIC’s Olga Rodriguez presented research on pandemic-induced enrollment declines at community colleges—with the largest decreases among Asian, Black, and Latino students—and discussed strategies for boosting student access and educational attainment.
blog post Video: The Effects of COVID-19 on Transfer-Intending Students in California’s Community Colleges By Stephanie Barton Nov 10, 2022 PPIC’s Cesar Alesi Perez presents new research on how the pandemic affected enrollment and persistence among transfer-intending students, and an expert panel discusses community colleges’ efforts to attract, retain, and support these learners.
blog post Ensuring All Students Benefit from Landmark Community College Reform By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez, Cesar Alesi Perez Oct 6, 2022 Last week, Governor Newsom signed into law a bill that requires California’s community colleges to expand their efforts to enroll—and support—students in transfer-level math and English courses. What does this bill do? And how might it help close racial equity gaps?
blog post After COVID, Community Colleges Must Focus on Improving Online Courses By Daniel Payares-Montoya Aug 17, 2022 As California continues to rebound from the pandemic, enrollment in community colleges’ online courses remains higher than in face-to-face courses. What are the keys to ensuring high-quality online instruction?
blog post Higher Education: The Economic Engine of California By Mark Baldassare Jul 21, 2022 An overwhelming majority of Californians say having a four-year college degree is important for economic and financial success. How do residents view education funding and other investments in helping students prepare for and complete college?
blog post California’s High Housing Costs Have Created a Million “House Rich” Millionaires By Hans Johnson Jul 21, 2022 Rising home prices have led to unprecedented levels of wealth among homeowners, with an estimated 1.2 million households now home-equity millionaires. Who are these house-rich Californians?
blog post Repaying Student Loans a Struggle for Those Who Do Not Graduate By Darriya Starr, Jacob Jackson Jul 20, 2022 Initially enacted to ease the economic shocks of the pandemic, a pause on federal student loan payments could end later this summer. Restarting payments could pose a challenge for many borrowers, especially those who do not complete their degree.
blog post Policy Expert Olga Rodriguez to Lead PPIC Higher Education Center By Vicki Hsieh Jul 5, 2022 New director Olga Rodriguez talks about her vision for the PPIC Higher Education Center and discusses the key issues for California’s colleges and universities today.
blog post In a Tight Labor Market, Does a College Degree Still Matter for Employment? By Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune Jun 16, 2022 The overall employment rate has returned to around pre-pandemic levels for California workers with and without a college degree. Still, among most demographic groups the recovery has lagged for workers without a degree.
blog post Most Parents Hope Their Kids Will Go to College, but Costs Are a Concern By Deja Thomas May 10, 2022 Overwhelming majorities of California parents want their children to get a college degree, but many parents worry about costs. Among households with lower incomes and lower educational attainment, the shares saying they are “very worried” have increased in the past year.
