GUEST OPINION:Our workforce is losing its edge GUEST OPINION:Our workforce is losing its edge (March 03, 2004)

By Rosa Perez

Workers in the United States are finding it more difficult to compete in a global marketplace because they have lost one of their biggest advantages -- superior education. But instead of expanding access to higher education for workers, the nation's politicians are slamming the door shut with policies that restrict access.

This is one of the greatest security threats facing our nation. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) the U.S. has the highest percentage of citizens enrolled in higher education but its rate of public spending on these students ranks a paltry 98th. China ranks 35th in per pupil spending while India ranks 44th. These countries compete for jobs in the global market because they offer an educated workforce that can be hired for less.

This year, the USA will graduate 1.2 million students with bachelor's degrees. In contrast, India will graduate 2.1 million and China will graduate 2.5 million. These college graduates from India and China aren't "stealing" U.S. jobs and opportunities; it is our country that is losing its competitive edge. It is a situation that is in our interest to remedy.

America's community colleges can play a key role in helping to transform this country's workforce into one of the finest in the world but we need political help. Education policies are crafted to fit college students as politicians see them -- recent high school graduates. The reality is, the profile of today's student has changed and our policies need to reflect this change.

There are approximately five million students enrolled in community colleges, almost half of all U.S. undergraduates. At the Community College National Legislative Summit held earlier this month it was reported that 39 percent of all students in higher education are over the age of 25. Forty percent of all students in higher education work full-time, try to raise families, and pay for their education without qualifying for financial aid.

In Washington, D.C., politicians are debating how to proceed with the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act that funds both federal aid to students and provides resources to serve at-risk populations. The system for awarding financial aid is in need of significant restructuring to benefit community college students, especially in California. Most of the financial aid regulations are still built around the premise of supporting traditional college age students who live "at home." In addition, federal policies have strayed from an emphasis on providing access to higher education for low-income families to helping middle-income families pay for rising tuition at universities.

In Sacramento, some legislators believe California's community colleges are a bargain and may again raise tuition. This could include a charge of $50 per unit for students who have already earned a bachelor's degree. Students who qualify to enter CSU and UC schools are being diverted to community colleges and will be given priority during scheduling and in the transfer process back into the state's universities. What message do these policies send a laid-off worker looking to make a career transition?

It is imperative that we provide access to educational opportunities for our workforce. If this country is to become competitive the laid-off high-tech worker who wants to enter a new career needs to be treated the same as the recent high school graduate when it comes to financial aid and tuition costs.

Rosa Perez is president of Cañada College in Redwood City.

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