The Richmond Times-Dispatch recently carried a story about the dynamic changes occurring at Virginia’s Community Colleges.

The growing community-college population is getting younger, and more students are transferring to four-year institutions.

As the job market becomes more technologically advanced and service-oriented and jobs become less permanent, community colleges are offering job-specific academic programs and training for more employers and employees.

The article is rich with details about the growing number of people being served by John Tyler Community College and J. Sargeant Reynolds Commuity College and the campus evolution that is occurring to meet their demands:

John Tyler plans to open a $21 million, 75,000-square-foot expansion next fall at the Midlothian campus.

“I continue to see us getting younger,” Smith said. “That’s going to have a lot of implications for student life. We’ll need more student centers and even athletic services.”

In the next decade, Rhodes said, J. Sargeant Reynolds will add a fourth campus in the Varina area, where the college has acquired land. Two parking decks are planned at the Parham Road and downtown campuses. He expects to double the number of students, build a couple of student centers and expand transfer partnerships with universities.