Community Colleges: Catalysts for Building and Diversifying the STEM Ecosystem

Video Caption: Expanding access to our community.

In the last two decades, the United States has grappled with the challenge of preparing, diversifying, and expanding the STEM workforce pipeline to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy revolutionized by technological advancements. According to a 2021 Pew Research Center analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM jobs are projected to outpace non-STEM jobs.¹ This concern was underscored at the Community College of Allegheny County Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Council meeting in late fall 2023, where industry representatives expressed difficulties in identifying, competing for, recruiting, and retaining qualified workers, especially women and minorities. This challenge is further compounded by an aging manufacturing workforce, with over 51% of workers aged between 45 and 65, according to a 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics report. This aging workforce dilemma is also seen in cybersecurity and union electricians, who range in age from 50 to 70 years old. Addressing this STEM labor market challenge will require an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach involving federal, state, and local government entities partnering with local economic and workforce agencies, community-based organizations, and K-12 and post-secondary sectors, particularly community colleges.  

Demographic Shift

The past two decades have witnessed a significant demographic shift in the United States, marked by the rapid growth of racial minorities and immigration. To put this into context, by 2050, the U.S. is projected to become a minority-majority population. Driving this demographic change is the anticipated growth in the Asian, Hispanic, and African American populations. Despite this forecasted growth, Hispanics and African Americans remain underrepresented in STEM fields, as highlighted by a 2021 report from the Pew Research Center. As the nation grapples with this, we must confront and leverage this demographic reality as an asset and an untapped opportunity rather than a constraint to meet this challenge. This blog emphasizes why community colleges are ideally suited to play a central role in expanding and diversifying the STEM pipeline. 

Community Colleges as the Bridge

Image 1 – Professor Rinsem showcasing robotics lab to community based organizations and the k-12 partners.

Community colleges have a longstanding legacy of preparing the American workforce, offering low-cost, accessible, post-secondary education and training programs. Their open access and equity-based mission make them a crucial access and entry point for historically underserved and economically disadvantaged students. This demographic reality is reflected in the 2024 American Association of Community Colleges fact sheet, where 51% of credit students are from racial minority groups, and 32% are first-generation students. Dr. Walter Bumphus, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges further accentuates the critical role that these institutions play by stating that

“Community colleges are at the forefront of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education improvement in the U.S. and serve as a major source for technician education. As community-based institutions, they are uniquely positioned to provide workforce development and technician training in response to growing industry needs. By offering affordable and accessible entry points into higher education, community colleges represent a significant national pathway to meeting the growing and diverse needs of a global workforce critical to our nation’s competitiveness and future.” 

With community college’s rich legacy of meeting the nation’s workforce needs, especially during the most challenging of economic periods, dating as far back as the 1930 Great Recession, community colleges serve as that central bridge in responding to the up-skilling or re-skilling needs of the workforce. Beyond the formal credit-bearing offerings, they are at the forefront in spearheading a more entrepreneurial and customized approach to offering post-secondary education and training. In the STEM field, community colleges provide a range of educational and training programs, including short-term credentials, certificates, associate degrees, contract training, and transfer opportunities to four-year institutions. By providing such programs, community colleges, with their established credibility, leverage their access to these underserved populations to engage, attract, and train those who may otherwise lack access to STEM education. These include, but are not limited to, adult dislocated workers, women, minorities, low-income populations, young adults, and at-risk youth. 

Case Study: Community College of Allegheny County

The Community College of Allegheny County, a multi-campus institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, exemplifies the central role that community colleges can play. By facilitating cross-organizational collaboration with critical stakeholders, CCAC has leveraged its reputation as a thought leader and the preeminent regional provider of workforce training. Through careful research, planning, and execution, CCAC is astutely engaged and aware of its region’s labor market needs. This knowledge base has been an anchor in the college positioning itself as the convener and the facilitator in galvanizing and collaborating with its external partners, such as community-based organizations, the K-12, business/industry and philanthropic sectors under one unifying vision. It is a bold and aggressive vision that CCAC president Dr. Quintin Bullock describes as

“Embracing our role as the catalyst, the champion and strategic convener in harnessing the intellectual, and financial resource capital of our region’s key stakeholders. As an institution, its about actualizing the bold ideas and recognizing the transformative impact it will have on our community, region and state.”  

Two example​s​ that best exemplify​​ CCAC’s success are its partnership with a local community-based organization Neighborhood Allies (NA), ​​​​and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE). These collaborations have yielded two significant outcomes: 

1. Through Neighborhood Allies, the formation of ​the​ Verizon Community Forward Homewood-Brushton Adult Learning Center, one of nine Verizon Community Forward learning centers that launched​ ​across the country​. This partnership ​expanded CCAC’s short-term training and certification opportunities for our predominantly African American high school and non-traditional age population. 
2. An increase in STEM exposure and awareness for the Pittsburgh community’s middle school students through Verizon Innovation Learning. 

Verizon Community Forward Homewood-Brushton Adult Learning Center

Image 2 – Verizon and Neighborhood Allies partners at grand opening.

Verizon launched the Verizon Community Forward Homewood-Brushton Adult Learning Center in partnership with Neighborhood Allies (NA), at one of the CCAC’s community centers in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The partnership’s mutual interest in addressing the digital divide for the underserved community in Pittsburgh would now expand access to these STEM based offerings. ​​​​The Homewood Brushton Center, which predominantly enrolls over 250 African American female students annually, now offers its high school age and non-traditional age students dual enrollment and short-term certificate opportunities in cyber-security, network support specialists and administrator computer specialists.​​

“The Center’s presence in the community is crucial to the equitable digital advancement of our surrounding communities. It is imperative for our citizens in today’s fast paced technologically advancing society that they are more prepared and marketable for the competitive workforce. It is our goal at the Homewood Brushton Center to be innovative in meeting the current industry demands in diverse industries that are directly applicable to our community partners.” shared by Dr. Juel Smith, Executive Director of the Homewood Brushton Center and the College’s Associate Dean for Sciences. 

Exposure and Awareness

In 2020, CCAC partnered with NACCE to host Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers, ​a STEM-based summer enrichment program for middle school students in under-resourced communities. The program, which is hosted at 45 HBCUs, HSIs, and community colleges nationwide, is led by NACCE through a partnership with Verizon. Dr. Rebecca Corbin, President & CEO of NACCE further expands on the critical role of that this partnership play by stating that

“NACCE forges partnerships that open doors of opportunity for students across the nation. STEM experiences infused with entrepreneurial mindset training delivered on community college and HBCU campuses are a pathway to achieve our NACCE vision of equity and prosperity for all.”

This program address​es​ the existing digital divide with historically underrepresented and underserved youth by increasing access and exposure to technology tools. Through this program, students gain experience in innovative STEM fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and 3D printing through a series of hands-on project-based active learning experiences culminating in portfolio presentations. These youth walk away inspired with an enhanced awareness of the many dynamic and emerging STEM careers in the region. Most importantly, these students improve their critical thinking, problem-solving, and presentation skills in developing the portfolio projects they identified as relevant to their communities. Now entering its 4th year as a host college of Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers, there has been over 36 school districts across the Pittsburgh and Allegheny county region that has participated in the program. Its success has been highlighted nationally in the League of Innovation with its impact on the ​​451 participating middle school students​​. ​​ 

Image 3 – from left to right: Dr. Juel Smith, Executive Director for the Homewood Brushton Center, Professor James Winyard, Department Chair and Assistant Professor of CIT, Dr. Evon Walters, Northwest Region President, Dr. Cavwell Edwards, Diverse Faculty Associate Professor of CIT and Dr. Quintin Bullock, College President.

The most significant example of the college increasing exposure and expanding access to the broader underserved community is the recent spring 2024 opening of its new Center for Education, Innovation, and Training (CEIT). This state-of-the-art facility, which is conveniently located on the Northside of Pittsburgh with easy access to the train and bus lines houses some of Pittsburgh’s emerging and high-demand STEM fields. These programs include 3D printing, additive and advanced manufacturing, building automation systems, cyber-security, network administration, computer numerical control (CNC), mechatronics and robotics. The impetus and eventual success of building this facility was predicated on the awareness and acknowledgment of the region’s labor market needs, identification of and careful planning with strategic partners, and investments in incentivizing collaboration. This investment was reflected in a 45-million-dollar partnership involving the state, local county, business, and the local philanthropic sector. Guided by an active advisory council of k-12, business/industry, community-based organizations and workforce entities, curriculum relevance, career awareness building and pathway expansion are explored and vetted. Most significantly, in the span of three months since its opening in mid-January through March of 2024, the facility and the college has attracted over 800 visitors. These visitors reflect school district leaders, counselors, and middle/high school students, as well as community-based organizations, chamber of commerce and the region’s business and industry sector.

Conclusion

Community colleges remain an indispensable resource in meeting America’s current STEM workforce challenge.They are the incubators for cultivating innovation with America’s future scientists and technicians. Given the demographic profile of their students, they are entrusted community partners who will continue to serve as a critical conduit in addressing the many socio-economic and racial inequities and barriers that prohibit access and mobility for these students into these fields. More importantly, they serve as a bridge, an advocate, and a resource tool in galvanizing the critical stakeholders to embed equity-based strategies in establishing partnerships and pathways.

Acknowledgments

1. Mr. Pressley Gillespie, President and Chief Executive Officer @ Neighborhood Allies
2. Itha Cao, Director of Digital Inclusion and Innovation @ Neighborhood Allies
3. Karen Lue, Senior Program Manager for Digital Inclusion and Innovation @ Neighborhood Allies
4. Dr. Rebecca Corbin, President and CEO of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship
5. Katie Calabrese, Senior Director of Verizon Programs; National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship
6. Dr. Vladimir St. Surin, CIT Adjunct Faculty; Director, Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program