Who Are Our Students? What Are Our Challenges? Our Diverse Students and Their Needs: Student Demographics and Diversity Data

This document is a collection of one-page summaries that analyze student demographic data and regional trends with respect to their implications for the strategic planning process at San Jose/Evergreen Community College District (California). Issues addressed include survival skills for the 21st century, working students, Silicon Valley 2010, enrollment by benchmark ethnicity, Hispanic students, Asian students, persistence by ethnicity, and enrollment by age group. Eleven skills necessary for succeeding in a rapidly changing world are identified: analytical thinking, teamwork, public speaking, adaptability, leadership, time management, diversity, global consciousness, ability to adjust to group living, higher degree of education, and basic communication skills. Upon examining the student demographic data, researchers confirmed that Asian students make up the largest ethnic group at Evergreen Valley College and San Jose City College. The data also suggest that the Hispanic/Latino student population will continue to increase at a higher rate than other ethnic groups. Other findings include the fact that 85.4% of Evergreen Valley College (EVC) students are employed, making EVC the third largest highest-ranking community college in the state in terms of percentage of working students. (RC)