Parts of rural America are prospering and growing, but far too many regions, communities, families and children are struggling. Much of rural America remains in decline, with people, jobs and hope leaving. In these areas education, health care, locally-based businesses, and public facilities are eroding.
While distance, isolation, persistent poverty and population decline are impacted by a variety of public policies across all sectors, public two-year colleges are a major presence in rural America. With 553 publicly controlled districts operating 957 rural serving campuses, these colleges bring a heritage of grounded, long-term connection to the people and institutions of rural America. While these institutions are engaged every day in building rural human and social capital, their potential as catalysts for advancing new economic and community development approaches which will lead to sustainable regional economies across rural America must be more effectively optimized.
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Alliance of Rural Colleges
The Alliance of Rural Colleges is a collaborative partnership between the Rural Community College Alliance (RCCA), the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) to strengthen the role of rural and tribal/aboriginal colleges in the United States and Canada. The Alliance of Rural Colleges is focused on improving the socio-economic, cultural, environmental, productive workforce capacity development of the Rural Americas through a coordinated, integrated approach by rural colleges and institutions toward community and regional development.
