The Impact of Declining Enrollment and Re-Careering on Community College Gerontology Programs

According to Inside Higher Ed (2020), community college enrollment declined by 10.1% during the fall 2020 semester and this decline in enrollment continued into the spring 2021 semester for many community colleges. Gerontology programs within community colleges were among curriculums impacted by this downswing in enrollment. This presentation will discuss what this means for community college Gerontology programs across the United States in a time when the older adult population is rapidly increasing, and a qualified workforce is needed to fill the multiple fields serving this aging population. One area of discussion will be the number of returning adults who are re-careering into Gerontology, some because of the impact of a family caregiving situation while others are motivated to change careers because of their interest in the numerous career pathways available in the field of aging. Suggestions for encouraging and supporting these newly returning adults will be discussed.