Education Policy, Business and Technology

Tidewater Layoffs Reflect National Problem

Inside Higher Ed: Tidewater Community College's third round of layoffs this month came without warning but probably didn't surprise many of the college's employees. Tidewater, which is located in Virginia, has struggled with enrollment in recent years, dropping from roughly 48,000 students in 2011 to 34,000 students in 2016.

The two-year college's enrollment issues are not unique -- community colleges across Virginia, and the country as a whole, have shed students for the past six years or so since the economy began recovering from the Great Recession. And the problem doesn't appear to be slowing down. Arizona's Pima Community College earlier this month announced plans to eliminate 6 percent of its employees’ positions, while St. Louis Community College laid off about 70 faculty members and 25 staff members in December.

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