Whilst enrollments in Fall 2009 were met or even surpassed – largely by recruiting more adult and graduate students – it’s the coming year that most concerns small colleges, as the recession persists and families potentially tighten their belts.

“There is a theory that Fall 2010 is going to be the hard one,” said Paul Hennigan, President of Point Park University, Pittsburgh. He also asked the guests in attendance whether they were suffering “crisis fatigue” and low morale.

One new president replied that transparency was the key: “I opened up a dedicated e-mail that comes straight to me, and I respond to each individually,” she said. “People are much more understanding when they know what’s going on.”

Another president reported that “niche” markets are still doing well, whilst athletics programs are also proving popular. Another avenue being pursued by presidents is to bolster their efforts in recruiting students from community colleges, with one president dedicating “two or three recruiters to community college recruitment”.

Indeed, some small liberal arts colleges are facing their stiffest competition from community colleges. “Parents are increasingly reluctant to invest in a kid who doesn’t know where she wants to end up,” said one president. “The competition from community colleges is worse than it’s ever been.”

The steep rise in applications to community colleges, as reported late last year, could see the system strained beyond capacity and lead to declining academic standards.

Experts are warning that the increase in numbers could also see academic levels and standards fall. Talking of LaGuardia, the New York Times stated, “a college under stress… Classes now begin as early as 6:45 a.m. The line for the 170 computer work stations in the library can snake around the stacks at lunch time, and the wait sometimes stretches to 45 minutes.”

Over the past academic year, the number of admissions to many US community colleges have soared, by up to 50% at some institutions. For many, community colleges offer an affordable higher education, – which in the midst of recession, redundancies and increased competition for jobs – is an attractive option. Patrick M Callan, President of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education said: “Most people would agree that this is not a good time in terms of the economic competitiveness of the country to be turning people away…The community college is a second-chance institution for the country.”

The New York Times explained how the “battered economy drove many workers back to school to retool their skills, while others have eschewed a four-year degree in favour of a more affordable two-year programme”.

In previous years, New York’s six community colleges – all part of The City University of New York, accepted applications up until late August and September, however this year: LaGuardia Community College stopped accepting applications in July, the Borough of Manhattan Community College in June and Queensborough Community College in early August.

To read the full report in the New York Times, click here.