Displaced Workers Heading Back to College May Receive Funds

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Stimulus funds may be used to help many who were driven out of the workforce and back to the classroom.

Colleges across the country are reporting sharp increases in enrollment. Part of the reason may be because many displaced workers are opting to go back to college to get a second degree.  That trend is especially evident in two-year institutions, like Oklahoma City Community College.

OCCC President Paul Sechrist said enrollment is up 20 percent over last year, and it's grown by 50 percent over the past decade.

"Especially in a softened economy, community colleges because of the lower tuition become very attractive to students," said Sechrist.

This week, President Obama proposed spending $12 billion specifically to help community colleges train people for various jobs in what the president calls a changing economy. But the money won't come easily to colleges.

"You're going to have to propose an idea, come up with an application, demonstrate how it will prepare students for jobs of the future," said Sechrist.

Jobs including nursing and working in the green sector, like OCCC's wind turbine certification program. Many local business owners said they agree with this type of program.

"It's great to start working on some of the green projects. That's the way we've obviously got to go. And wind energy is something most folks identify with," said Keith Geary, Capital West Securities president.