New York's community colleges have a key role to play in elevating poor and working poor New Yorkers into the ranks of the middle class. The economy is producing few decent-paying jobs for people with only a high school diploma, and community colleges offer the most accessible path for people to obtain a post-secondary credential. However, tens of…

This paper analyzes the recent and past demographic, economic, political, and social causes of community college enrollment trends. It also discusses the effects on enrollment of proximity and low cost; the reclassification of existing institutions to two-year college status; community college usurpation of functions formerly provided by other…