Community colleges in the U.S. have struggled with enrollment declines. But a new report says schools in smaller towns and cities, including South Dakota, are deploying strategies that allow their campuses to thrive.

Findings from the Aspen Institute cite factors such as relationships with local employers, especially for new and evolving industries, as reasons why these institutions are weathering the storm.

Watertown's Lake Area Technical College is featured in the report. School Vice President Diane Stiles said a lot of its programs closely align with industry demand.

Right now, those include nursing and diesel technology.

"There's a wide skills gap in South Dakota and they're high-paying careers," said Stiles. "And so, we've strategically grown those programs so that we could educate more students so that they can enter those high-wage careers."

She said the approach has contributed to a 40% enrollment increase since 2014. But there are challenges, including being in a low-population state, complicating efforts to meet industry needs.

The report adds that rural colleges have fewer resources to help students with "wrap-around" issues like childcare.

The report also credits Lake Area Tech for knowing when to skip a proposed program for certain careers. For example, it opted out when approached by livestock farmers who need large-animal veterinary technicians.

Stiles said it just didn't work for their area.

"And when we're looking at new programs, we look at the number of jobs that are available in the workforce and the wages," said Stiles. "And so, if a student's going to invest in their education at Lake Area tech, is there going to be a return on investments?"

She said it appeared the veterinary proposal wouldn't meet those benchmarks.

Lake Area reviews all of its programs each year to ensure they're providing enough value. Meanwhile, the school is getting state support to increase faculty salaries in hopes of attracting enough instructors with industry knowledge.

Support for this report was provided by Lumina Foundation.




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The Greater Albany Education Association has voted to strike in as soon as 10 days if no agreement is reached on a new contract with the Greater Albany Public Schools.

After nine months of bargaining, 92% of nearly 500 union members voted in favor of a strike, which would be the first teacher strike in Albany since 1987.

Dana Lovejoy, president of the union who has been in the district for 19 years, noted Albany teacher salaries are currently the lowest among 35 comparable Oregon districts, which she said affects staff recruitment, retention and classroom safety.

"Thirty-four other districts get paid more than we do," Lovejoy pointed out. "People just genuinely cannot afford to stay in this district."

The district said it is disappointed about the strike potential and it would not be able to meet the pay increases, class size limits and staff retention strategies the union is asking for. The union countered by pointing to the district's $15 million surplus, which it said is much higher than needed.

The school district's current salary offer would move Albany teacher pay up to 32nd of 35 comparable Oregon school districts. Lovejoy noted the district has yet to respond to 10 of the union's proposals. She added the money is there but thinks the district needs to reassess its goals.

"We know that a budget is the district's priorities," Lovejoy observed. "So we believe that they could reprioritize and put students first, followed by the staff who are in front of them."

One more mediation session has been scheduled but Lovejoy stressed the union has requested additional meetings to address class size limits, workload and health care. A strike could begin as soon as Nov. 12.

While Lovejoy hopes a walkout will not be necessary, she emphasized the union will stand firm for the sake of the students.

"I think it's important that our community knows that we are fighting for the schools that their children deserve," Lovejoy added.


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Lack of diversity in the medical field is a big problem.

Data show fewer than 6% of active physicians in the U.S. are Black and fewer than 7% are Hispanic, so Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is working to diversify across the campus. The Next Generation Healthcare Pathways program offers a 10-week paid internship.

Daniela Villegas, the program's manager added the first-level DISCOVER program exposes college students to an array of possible careers.

"We like to pretty much allow them to job shadow, to have mentors, to just network across the medical center," Villegas outlined, "To be able to see if health care is their passion."

You can fill out an interest form at the Cedars-Sinai Next Gen website.

Students hear from professionals in a range of fields, not just doctors and nurses but jobs without a 5-10 year training requirement, like radiology technologists, phlebotomists, administrators and more. Once you complete the DISCOVER program, the next step is the ELEVATE program, which offers a one-year position while you finish your degree.

Villegas encouraged students to take a chance on the Next Gen program, even if they do not know what they want to do after graduation.

"We always like to not just target the '4.0' students," Villegas explained. "We really like to open the doors to just anyone that wants to come learn, network experience, get the experience hands on. And again, Cedars-Sinai is huge and we will find a career for everyone."

Cedars also has a two-year Youth Employment Development program for high school students in partnership with Fairfax High School, which pays minimum wage and counts for school credit.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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As teacher shortages grip Mississippi classrooms, a nonprofit is recruiting Generation Z educators to teach, tutor, and lead schools.

A survey by the Mississippi Department of Education found more than 5,000 vacancies among teachers, administrators and school support staff.

Kewanza Q. Williams, executive director of Teach for America Greater Delta, which includes Mississippi and Arkansas, said they provide a viable pathway toward entering the education field for Gen Z educators. She added their new partnership program is helping young educators become certificated teachers.

"We also have started a Spark Initiative, a Grow Your Own initiative," Williams outlined. "Where we work directly with districts such as Holmes County in Mississippi and Clarksdale Collegiate, identifying paraprofessionals or others who are interested in the educational field and getting them more invested and involved and informed about what is education."

Williams pointed out the organization currently employs more than 100 teachers and tutors across Mississippi and Arkansas, helping them reach their educational and career goals. She added they have 400 alumni working in various education-related fields, helping to build a system where children can fully develop their capabilities.

Williams noted they are also recruiting students from Mississippi and Arkansas college campuses and universities. She explained the Ignite tutoring program, where college students help high school students with their homework, fostering academic success and valuable connections.

"We recruit freshmen and sophomores and juniors in college to serve as virtual tutors, where they can be in their dorm room tutoring students from across the United States," Williams emphasized. "This high dosage tutoring has really helped here in Mississippi and Arkansas."

Williams added teachers can get certified for free in Mississippi and Arkansas through the Teach for America Greater Delta program. She stressed it provides comprehensive training and mentorship throughout the two-year program and beyond, ensuring teachers have the resources they need to succeed.


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