Student Diversity and the Emerging Workforce: The Changing Profile of Students in North Carolina Community Colleges.

Information is provided on trends in the characteristics of students attending North Carolina's community colleges. Chapter 1 discusses the issues of extending opportunities to a diverse student population and developing a capable workforce, and explains the purposes and need for the present study. Chapter 2 presents the methods and procedures used in the study, which involved a survey of 16,196 students enrolled in 58 community colleges during fall 1988 and an analysis of other data derived from previous studies, census reports, and statewide reports. Chapters 3 through 5 highlight changes that have occurred in student profiles from 1968 to 1988, including trends in curriculum and continuing education students and enrollment changes compared with changes in the state's adult population. Chapter 6 provides a comprehensive profile of the students enrolled in fall 1988, while chapter 7 looks at the characteristics of students in college transfer, general, technical, and vocational education programs in terms of their demographic, socioeconomic, academic, and attendance characteristics. Chapter 8 profiles continuing education students in the academic, preparatory, avocational, occupational, and practical skills programs. Finally, chapters 9 and 10 offer a summary of findings, conclusions, and a discussion of implications. The survey instrument and additional information about study methodology are appended. (GFW)