Entrenched Neoliberal Design at U.S. Community Colleges in the Post-Truth Era

• In Event: 43.058 - Re-Visioning Education Research for the Post-Truth Era

Abstract

This paper documents findings of the fundamental transformation of U.S. community colleges along neoliberal and market-driven designs. The transformation is conceptualized and mapped out through the American Association of Community Colleges and started in 2012. The result of this transformation is an emphasis on accelerated programs of study and on programs with a clear market-alignment to follow labor market trends and satisfy employers’ needs. This will result in training and skills-acquisition instead of a meaningful education, in a lack of developing critical literacy, and in a fortification of social stratification. All this is opposed to a Freirean critical pedagogy that is liberating and critical, that will support a thriving democracy, and counteract authoritarian societal tendencies in a Post-truth Era.

Authors

• Joachim Dorsch

• Ana Lucia Cruz, Saint Louis Community College