Community colleges across the nation have experienced an unprecedented increase in enrollment in the past two years. The growth is primarily a result of the economic recession, with its credit crunch and jobs loss. Because community college tuition is less than tuition at four-year institutions, more students are turning to community colleges as an affordable way to earn an advanced degree. Also, the unemployed are flocking to community college skills programs to gain skills and credentials. While community colleges welcome the new students, they are also struggling to cope with decreased state and federal funding and overcrowded facilities.

On July 14, 2009, President Barack Obama declared that ""community colleges are an essential part of our recovery in the present and our prosperity in the future."" For that reason, Obama has proposed an additional $12 billion in funding for community colleges over the next 10 years. The goals of the community college initiative are to:

-- Increase effectiveness of community colleges.

-- Raise graduation rates.

-- Modernize facilities.

-- Expand online learning opportunities.

According to distinguished scholars Davis Jenkins and Thomas Bailey, community colleges can attain the goals of the Obama plan, but only if they are able to make major changes in the community college system which have state support in funding and policy. Enrolling more students in community colleges is not enough if the students are not adequately prepared for college work or if the students do not graduate with a degree or certificate. By carefully compiling and studying data about what works and does not work and devoting resources appropriately, educators will be able to make positive changes to increase their effectiveness. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1910472,00.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Excerpts-of-the-Presidents-remarks-in-Warren-Michigan-and-fact-sheet-on-the-American-Graduation-Initiative/ http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2009/10/13/bailey

Reconstruction Continues with BMCC's Fiterman Hall

After scraping together $325 million and decontaminating and demolishing Fiterman Hall, the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) will commence reconstruction of the site on December 5, 2009. A victim of September 11, Fiterman Hall has stood unused and contaminated as a silent reminder of the attacks on the World Trade Center. Fiterman Hall was damaged when 7 World Trade Center collapsed on it. It was quite a struggle to accumulate the funds needed to rebuild Fiterman Hall, but BMCC finally was able to combine funds from insurance, the state of York, New York City, and the City University of New York (of which BMCC is a part). http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1223835/sept_11_reconstruction_continues_with.html?cat=17 The project is expected to be completed in 2012.

The new Fiterman Hall will contain 14 floors and 390,000 sorely-needed square feet. It will include classrooms, labs, and offices. For the present, BMCC's 32,500 students have been meeting in over-crowded classrooms in less-than-desirable locations throughout lower Manhattan. In addition to rejuvenating BMCC, the new building will also contribute to the renovation and recovery of the entire business district and serve as a symbol of American resilience. http://www.theticker.org/about/2.8215/bmcc-s-9-11-blight-erased-1.2085116