Community and technical colleges will continue to be the focus of significant attention in 2010 as policymakers seek ways to spur economic recovery.

But don't expect policymakers to dole out huge sums of money to ease the massive enrollment increase.

No, "productivity" will be the name of the game in 2010.  In fact, if you listen closely, you're sure to hear one of educators' most dreaded phrases: "doing more with less."

Unconvinced about productivity being one of the most prominent themes of 2010?  You need only look at an ambitious project sponsored by the Lumina Foundation to wipe out any doubts:

The Foundation recently announced $9.1 million in grants under its Making Opportunity Affordable program.  MOA is a multi-year initiative with the goal of finding new ways of "educating many more students within existing resources." 

According to Lumina CEO Jamie Merisotis, "Momentum is building to serve greater numbers of students by maximizing the use of existing resources and ensuring quality. These grants will move us toward a deeper understanding of how we can implement policies and practices that elicit more value from our shared investment in higher education."

Read more from Inside Higher Education. 

This growing focus on productivity isn't necessarily a bad thing.  In fact, it could be a very good thing.  We know that an extremely high proportion of students do not attain a degree or credential after their stint in a community or technical college.  Policy recommendations that truly improve completion rates would be highly valued.

However, "doing more with less" and increasing "productivity" are often code for cutting jobs, reducing benefits, eliminating programs, and implementing ill-conceived management fads.  

We therefore remain cautious of such efforts, fearing that productivity will  compromise quality.

Are you hearing the "P" word around campus?