Opinion - Whatcom View

POSTED: Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

What to do when recession sends you back to school

Day follows night; spring leads to summer and during a recession adults return to school in droves. When people are pushed out of their jobs or find they need new or upgraded skills to land a job the enrollment numbers for technical colleges, community colleges and universities swell.

Betty Krump, executive director of the American Technical Education Association, based in Wahpeton, N.D. recently told USA Today that economic struggles and unemployment are causing "significant spikes" in enrollment. Here locally, Bellingham Technical College is seeing enrollment up 16-17 percent over last fall. Vice President of Student Services David Klaffke reports that since last fall there has been an increase of 32 percent in worker retraining students (students who have been laid off, etc.).

It seems like a good idea to go back to school. Traditional wisdom tells us that more education means greater opportunity in the marketplace. But is this true? If you are a returning student there are several issues you should consider before heading back to school during harsh economic times.

- What program are you going to study? There are many factors to consider when selecting a training program or degree. First, where are your natural talents? Sometimes you can add more specialized or advanced training in your field to the education and experience you already have.

You should also consider future employment opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov), and the Fall 2009 version is online now. If you are interested in several fields, you may end up with a better long-term result by pursuing studies in the field with the greatest job potential and growth.

The length of a program, and perhaps your age, should factor into your decision as well. Some technical training certificates can have you out into the job force in two years or less. Traditional degrees may take several years and you might need to pursue studies beyond a bachelor's degree in order to compete in the job market.

- How are you going to pay your tuition? For most adults education is not free. In fact, tuition and fees for higher education have skyrocketed in the last generation.

The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities announced that 70 percent of private colleges surveyed planned to increase tuition in 2009-2010. In the United States today there are thousands of highly educated yet unemployed people, and many of them are drowning in crippling student loan debt. The FSLDM (Forgive Student Loan Debt Movement forgivestudentloandebt.com) boasts a membership of over 233,000. These people took out loans with the belief that more education would eventually lead to a higher income.

Be cautious. Take advantage of grants and scholarships whenever you can - money that doesn't have to be paid back. Consider going to school part-time and "paying as you go," and be sure to check with your employer, if you still have one, for tuition reimbursement programs. It is especially important for older students who may be looking at fewer years of employment to take on student loan debt with extreme caution.

- How are you going to handle the workload? Modern life is hectic and full. Unless you are extremely lucky you will be balancing your home life, your studies and possibly your career. Returning students have job responsibilities, child and elder care needs and sometimes health issues that impact available hours and stamina.

Resist the urge to take all the courses possible. There is more to any class than just the time spent attending lectures. Courses require reading and work outside of the scheduled class time. Find out ahead of time about the workload for the courses you need. Make sure you have a support network - friends and family who will encourage you in this endeavor. Invest some effort into creating a time management system and finding a mentor or advisor (on campus or off).

Like any other decision you make during a recession, choosing to go back to school can have long-term economic consequences. Don't let this be a "knee jerk" reaction. Carefully examine your options for schools, programs and payment before committing. Do some self-examination as well to determine if you are ready and willing to put in the time and energy to acquire new credentials. And finally, seek out sound advice from other adult students, instructors and counselors or mentors.

Karen Southall Watts is an adjunct teacher and writing tutor at Bellingham Technical College who has taught at the community college level for more than a decade. She returned to school after the age of 40 and completed a master degree in Organization Management in 2006.