Ask a community college president about what school will look like in the fall and be prepared for an eye roll, lots of shrugging and even a baffled look or two.

They’ve got no clue, really. That’s not their fault. In the coronavirus era of rapidly changing information and restrictions, the presidents have no idea what they’ll be allowed to do, much less how they are going to instruct students.

“That will be the million-dollar question. I’m not sure we know yet,” said Martha Parham, the senior vice president for public relations for the American Association of Community Colleges. “A lot depends on how the economy bounces back.”

“The unknown is if we’re still in the online [learning] environment in the fall,” added Tracy D. Hall, president of Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis.

It’s not just administrators who are in limbo. Students find themselves wondering how school will work, if they will be safe going back and if they will have enough money to afford school this fall.
Coronavirus and schools:Students are weary of online classes, but colleges can’t say whether they’ll open in fall 2020

Many community college leaders remain hopeful that their schools have the flexibility – and affordability – to play an integral role in the effort to help the country transition from stay-at-home orders to get-back-to-work optimism.

Until then, though, the picture that can be drawn by looking at enrollment for upcoming summer sessions isn’t pretty for most schools. A good case study can be found at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan.