CLEVELAND -- America has long been touted as a land of opportunity, where anyone can attain a better life with enough hard work and determination.
But not all opportunities are created equal, and many inequities begin with a disparity in educational attainment. The impact of COVID-19 provides a recent example. College enrollment dropped by 4.2% nationally between fall 2020 and fall 2022 but. according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the impact was greater among Black (6.9%), Native American (6.5%) and international (8.4%) students.
Enrollment hasn’t completely recovered at many U.S. colleges and universities, as would-be students continue to confront the cost of attendance, face personal barriers or are drawn to the easy money available in the gig marketplace.
This drop in college enrollment represents lost opportunities for individuals and presents significant risks to the health of our communities, businesses and economy. It means fewer nurses, manufacturers, IT specialists, first responders and other professionals — leaving a massive skills gap in critical fields. This gap is already pronounced in Northeast Ohio, where we have struggled for decades to align skilled workers with high demand jobs, keeping talent living and working in the area.
Education is a civil right, essential to a high standard of living and regional economic growth. It is only fitting that we draw attention to inequities that continue to endanger this fundamental right on the eve of the holiday that commemorates the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
King envisioned a “beloved community” in which everyone has the opportunity to build a better life. He was instrumental in the civil rights advances of the 1950s and ‘60s, including advocating for the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Yet almost 60 years later, King’s vision remains elusive. People of color are still underrepresented in higher education and in our region’s living-wage workforce. As leaders of two public postsecondary institutions in Northeast Ohio, we are working together to address inequities that prevent residents from pursuing education or training that leads to sustainable-wage careers.
Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State University have long partnered for the betterment of our community and will continue to strengthen this bond to help current and future students. Our institutions remain laser-focused on helping individuals acquire the necessary skillsets for career success, including critical thinking, leadership and STEM knowledge.
We are committed to providing wraparound support services that address food and housing insecurity, child care, transportation and more. Last year, ground was broken for the Cleveland Scholar House, an apartment complex that will provide many of these services for qualifying students at both schools.
Together, we commit to helping students achieve the American dream, no matter their financial capacity. This includes strengthening existing programs that allow students to earn certificates and associate degrees from Tri-C and easily transfer to CSU for bachelor’s and postgraduate degrees.
On Jan. 17, following our 32nd annual celebration breakfast commemorating Dr. King’s legacy, we will embark upon a new level of engagement. Leadership teams at both institutions will come together in a summit, “Education as a Civil Right: Building a Culture of Community and Equity,” to address barriers to entry, strengthen program alignment and broaden career pathways.
Laura Bloomberg is president of Cleveland State University. Michael A. Baston is president of Cuyahoga Community College. (Images courtesy of Cleveland State University and Tri-C)
But the effort doesn’t stop with us. Improving access and equity in education is a community endeavor, and we urge you to join us in creating a “beloved community.” Whether you encourage a high school student to pursue their educational dreams, guide an adult learner back to school to expand their skills, provide financial support for scholarships or advocate for greater funding to our public education institutions, you are helping to shape lives and build a better tomorrow for us all.
Working together with support from others throughout Northeast Ohio, we can overcome the barriers that prevent everyone in our region from attaining the education and opportunity that is the fundamental right of all who call this country home.
Michael A. Baston is president of Cuyahoga Community College and Laura Bloomberg is president of Cleveland State University.
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