More than two-thirds of mothers attending community college devote 30 or more hours per week to caregiving. Many also face financial hardship, a lack of child care, and limited support both on and off campus. All of this makes it difficult for them to sustain their educational pursuits. 

Community colleges and four-year universities alike must recognize this often-overlooked equity challenge, writes InsideTrack’s president in this essay—and do more to ensure women are not only enrolling in community college but also being set on a clear path toward transferring and earning a four-year degree.

Community colleges are still struggling to recover from the “Great Resignation” that hit higher ed during the pandemic—with persistent staffing shortages directly affecting students’ experiences.

The troubled state of community colleges’ workforces could compound enrollment challenges that are already wreaking havoc on institutional bottom lines, experts say.