4 min read January 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Donald Generals, president of Community College of Philadelphia, discussed the institution’s recent achievements, challenges of remote work, evolving skill demands and potential regulatory changes impacting higher education in Greater Philadelphia.
How has the growth of Community College of Philadelphia in the last year reflected the growth of the Greater Philadelphia region?
Our most significant development is the opening of the Career and Advanced Technology Center in West Philadelphia, a $35 million investment in a 70,000-square-foot facility. We offer various workforce development programs like welding, advanced technology, programmable logical control, electrical mechanics and healthcare programs like dental technician and certified nursing assistant. Partnered with the community, we aim to create pathways to sustainable jobs for students. We are also seeing signs of recovery from the pandemic, with improved enrollment and graduation rates. Our recent successful gala fundraiser raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for students.
What are the key challenges faced by employees in Philadelphia with the shift toward remote work and the retention of talent?
It’s been a challenge dealing with remote work. Many Philadelphia employees now work for companies outside the city that offer remote options, which poses retention challenges. Some, like Comcast, are returning to in-person work four days a week, while we have a remote work policy allowing staff to work remotely at least one day, with some choosing two. Most of our graduates find jobs in healthcare, where in-person work is essential, such as nursing and medical imaging. Some work in companies that offer remote options but they prefer to stay in Philadelphia due to their roots here. Many graduates with associate degrees aim for bachelor’s and even graduate degrees, building their lives in Philadelphia, where they grew up and where the economy matches their career goals.
How is Community College of Philadelphia capitalizing on opportunities in the higher education landscape and employer demands in Greater Philadelphia?
Higher education is changing due to the evolving tech job landscape, with reduced emphasis on bachelor’s degrees. We offer flexibility through associate degrees and short-term certificates like cybersecurity enable career shifts for liberal arts graduates. Our faculty, often from a younger generation, embrace innovation, especially in workforce development. We focus on aligning with employers’ needs, rather than expecting them to chase our graduates. This approach is well-received by businesses.
How have skill demands in Greater Philadelphia evolved and what is higher education’s role in meeting these employer needs?
Computer skills, technology and technical skills are in high demand in today’s world. We rely heavily on our faculty and our ability to teach various forms of computer technology, including cloud computing, networking and artificial intelligence. Machine learning is also a significant part of our curriculum. Additionally, there’s a strong demand for healthcare professionals, particularly in nursing. What sets us apart from others is our emphasis on “power skills,” including critical thinking, effective communication, problem-solving and teamwork. All our programs prioritize these skills alongside the specific discipline, aiming to produce an educated and skilled workforce, not just individuals with technical abilities.
What are the primary challenges faced by Community College of Philadelphia and how are you addressing them?
Meeting the demand for workforce development programs is challenging due to the high resource requirements. This includes technical resources, faculty recruitment, and finding ways to help students pay for non degree certificate programs through grants since we lack a funding system like Pell Grants. There are high costs associated with the equipment needed for these programs, such as CNC machines, welding booths and dental tech equipment. Additionally, there’s a shortage of faculty for specialized programs like welding, so we’re trying to develop our own instructors. For instance, it took us a long time to find an instructor for our heavy truck mechanical service program.
Which partnerships are you most excited about to sustain an educated workforce in Greater Philadelphia?
We’re establishing partnerships with gene and cell therapy companies like WuXi Advanced Therapies, Spark Therapeutics and Iovance Biotherapeutics to train and place students in their internship programs with the possibilities of job placements. We continue to enjoy a long term relationship with The Wistar Institute in gene and cell therapy. We’re also involved in the Navy pipeline project for welders at the Navy Yard and associated industries including Rhoads Industries. Our Toyota T-TEN program offers a regional opportunity for students to work at Toyota while earning their degree. We’re proud of our expanding internship programs, including partnerships with the Independence Blue Cross and Aon insurance companies. The college runs an experiential learning program with Saxbys cafe on campus.
Are there any upcoming or recent regulatory changes or legislation that you are closely monitoring due to their potential impact on your work?
There’s little happening at the federal level in terms of legislation. There’s a dormant higher education reauthorization bill with funding for noncredit programs but I’m not optimistic about it passing soon. At the state level, we’re excited about Josh Shapiro’s first budget and potential policy changes to ensure smoother transfers from two-year to four-year colleges. President Joe Biden’s recent loan relief announcement has us paying attention, as federal aid changes can impact us. The Supreme Court’s decision against affirmative action is also a concern.
The concern is that recent court decisions, like the one in Atlanta that struck down a minority women’s business startup loan program called Fearless Fund, may be an indication of further rulings against efforts to affirmatively undo historical discrimination against marginalized groups. Affirmative action is seen as a crucial means to overcome sociological and historical barriers to academic success for students of color, LGBTQ students, and others. If the Supreme Court’s stance on affirmative action continues in this direction, it could significantly affect our work as an opportunity and access institution.
What are your priorities for CCP and Greater Philadelphia’s higher education sector in the next five years?
There’s a belief that higher education will undergo disruption, but I think community colleges have a history of disrupting traditional higher education. We focus on providing access, short-term certificates, workforce development programs and online instruction. Some offer bachelor’s degrees, while we have post-bachelor programs. Our nursing program has a waiting list for students with existing degrees who struggle to find jobs in their field. We’re embracing artificial intelligence and adapting to societal changes. In the next five years, CCP will maintain its identity while continuing to innovate to meet growing economic and social needs. Our immediate, specific goal is to expand in the health and life sciences areas by building a state of the art health and life sciences facility.
How does your institution plan to address the challenges in education and provide a clear vision at an earlier stage for students in Philadelphia?
I think we’re becoming more central to the city’s vitality, both economically and sociologically. I take responsibility for addressing social challenges and collaborating with high schools on dual enrollment. We have a middle college program for students to earn an associate degree, and we want to expand it. Education is the key to solving Philadelphia’s challenges, and we aim to provide a clear vision at an earlier stage. Students can handle college work at a younger age with the right support, so we want to intervene at a younger age, around 14 or 15, to guide them toward academic and career success.
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