Pima Community College Dismayed by State Decision to Eliminate Adult Education Workforce Funding
TUCSON, AZ — Pima Community College is dismayed by the agreement between the Governor and the Arizona Legislature to eliminate funding for the Community College Adult Education Workforce Program. This decision will result in a $1.5 million reduction in support for the College's Adult Basic Education for College and Career (ABECC) programs.
Over the past four years, this funding has helped thousands of adult learners gain the skills, education, and workforce credentials needed to advance their careers and meet Southern Arizona's workforce needs. Through the funding source that has just been eliminated, PCC's Adult Education program has helped more than 650 adults complete their High School Equivalency (HSE/GED) diplomas while enabling more than 1,700 learners to complete entry-level workforce training and begin career pathways. Today, approximately 70,000 adults in Pima County do not have a high school diploma or equivalent credential.
While Pima Community College remains committed to serving adult learners and supporting the workforce needs of Southern Arizona, the College cannot sustain this critical effort alone. Achieving the shared goal of meeting Arizona's workforce demands requires the support of all community stakeholders, including the State of Arizona. The College will be forced to tap into emergency funds to sustain services in the short term. Those resources are finite and cannot replace state investment in education. Pima Community College has not received state operating support funding for more than a decade, even though the state does provide operating support to nearly every other community college.
The long-term outlook remains uncertain. Without the restoration of state funding, reductions to programs, services, and staffing will become necessary, possibly as soon as next year. At the same time, proposed federal funding reductions could significantly diminish adult education programs nationwide, further jeopardizing access to these critical services for students and communities.
The College will explore alternative funding opportunities and will continue working with the Legislature and community partners to support the restoration of these important investments in adult learners and workforce development. The loss of this funding is deeply troubling and will have severe impacts on educational access, workforce development, and economic opportunity throughout Southern Arizona.
Adult education is often the first step for individuals pursuing a GED, workforce credential, English-language instruction, or a pathway to college and family-sustaining employment. These programs provide opportunities for thousands of Southern Arizona residents to improve their lives, strengthen their careers, and contribute to the region's economy and workforce.
Pima Community College will continue advocating for the restoration of this funding and exploring every available option to protect services for the students and communities who depend on them.
CONTACT:
Justin Kree
Director of Media Relations
Pima Community College
Cell: 520.710.7170
jkree@pima.edu