Community Colleges

Community colleges are institutions of higher education that traditionally offer two-year programs leading to the award of an associate's degree. To receive a baccalaureate degree, a community college student must transfer to a four-year college or university to complete an additional two years. Community colleges also offer shorter skills training programs and community education.

Community colleges play a vital role in making higher eduction accessible to all. Their tuition is generally lower than that charged by four-year institutions, and they offer flexible class schedules and on-line components for students who also work. Because students can attend community colleges in their local areas, they can avoid moving and housing expenses by remaining at home.

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

One of the primary advantages of a community college over a four-year university is that tuition at a community college is significantly less than at other institutions. The opportunity to get an associate's degree or skills training at an affordable cost has traditionally attracted students to community colleges.

The ongoing recession has had "two major impacts" on community colleges:

1) Not surprisingly, the number of students interested in community college has increased as the recession has continued. Many parents and students simply cannot afford the four-year tuition due to the economic downturn, lost jobs, and depleted portfolios. Many community colleges have experienced record growth in enrollment.

2) With money tight, state, local, and federal support for community colleges has decreased. Charitable contributions have also declined.

The fallout from these developments continues to plague community colleges and their programs.http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/dialog/news/2010/05/17/completion Community colleges are being forced to make tough decisions about how to cope with the changes. This article highlights some of the different approaches that community colleges have tried to deal with the double whammy of increased enrollment and decreased financial support.

Increasing Tuition

Community colleges in Alabama recently faced a dilemma: due to decreased support, they would either have to raise tuition or cut services. The state Board of Education decided to increase tuition at Alabama community colleges. On average, students will experience a 15 percent increase, causing them to pay about $420 more for one year at a community college. Tuition at community colleges is still between 41 and 52 percent less than at public universities in Alabama. http://www.accs.cc/PDFs/News%20Release%20-%20Board%20authorizes%20tuition%20rate%20adjustment%20-%20102209.pdf Alabama has 25 community colleges which are attended by 92,329 students. http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/story.lasso?ewcd=ac03d8252fd0c100

Cutting and Eliminating Services

Come community colleges have either eliminated entire programs or cut back on the number of classes. For example, City College of San Francisco cancelled its popular summer session for 2010. On the one hand, the move is expected to save $4 million, which will close one third of the school's budget gap. On the other hand, students are experiencing hardships because they cannot use the summer session to get in classes that were full in the fall and spring semesters. For some students, loss of the summer session will postpone additional education or beginning careers. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/02/04/MNGF1BS143.DTL

Community college students are being shut out because there are not enough courses offered for them to satisfy the degree requirements. The San Diego Community College District, which serves 100,000 students, cut 600 classes in the 2009 fall semester. The 18,000 students cut out of required courses were advised to apply early in the spring. California's Southwestern College cut one fourth of its course offerings for spring 2010. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/oct/19/college-shedding-course-sections/>/ref>

When community colleges decide to deal with budget cuts by eliminating programs, sports programs are often the first targets. In the fall, community colleges in St. Louis will cut seven of the 22 intercollegiate athletic programs, including wrestling, baseball, women's volleyball, and men's soccer. The cuts were based on the number of students participating and travel costs. The college will also close childcare centers on three campuses. <ref>http://www.dhe.mo.gov/files/stlouiscc_cuts.pdf

In stark contrast, some community colleges are actually expanding facilities and programs. Pratt Community College, in Pratt, Kansas, recently announced a new dormitory and a new soccer program. The residence hall will cost $2.8 million for 72 beds and will alleviate a housing shortage. The soccer program, for men and women, is expected to assist in recruiting new students. http://www.pratttribune.com/news/education/x637605023/PCC-trustees-approve-new-dorm-and-soccer-program

Capping Enrollment

While community colleges pride themselves on accessibility through open enrollment, some states are having to consider capping enrollment. Miami Dade College, the largest community college in the U.S., announced that enrollment would be capped in the fall of 2009, leaving 30,000 students unable to take classes needed to graduate and 5,000 students unable to register for any classes. http://chronicle.com/article/Largest-Community-College-in/47663/ Wayne County Community College in Michigan capped its enrollment for spring 2010, closing registration three weeks early. http://asumag.com/dailynews/wayne-county-michigan-community-college-enrollment-capped-20100112/ Restricting enrollment is extremely distasteful to community college officials, so enrollment caps are usually implemented as a last resort. http://www.magicvalley.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_651652a5-4a3a-5354-bf07-e6a2bcb854d5.html

Partnering with For-Profit Universities

California community colleges have arranged for students to receive credit toward associate degrees by taking online courses at Kaplan University, a for-profit organization.http://chronicle.com/blogPost/California-Community-College/21134/ Kaplan will offer the courses to community college students at a reduced tuition rate. Because of inadequate funding from the state, California community colleges have not been able to accommodate the increasing numbers of students who are opting to attend community colleges rather than four-year institutions. http://www.mycaliforniadegree.com/california-college-news/1050-california-community-colleges-partner-with-kaplan-university Their inability to offer enough courses to meet the deman has delayed some students in getting their degrees. http://kalwnews.org/audio/2010/05/19/community-college-goes-private-kaplan-university_370504.html Community colleges are trying the unprecedented arrangement so that students do not have to wait to get into the required courses. Each community college will determine which Kaplan courses can be transferred.

The agreement with Kaplan University has been controversial. Even with the discounted rate, student will have to pay more to take a course at Kaplan as opposed to a community college. A three-credit course at a community college costs $78, whereas the same course at Kaplan costs $645. http://communitycollegespotlight.org/content/california-colleges-partner-with-kaplan_422/ Some are concerned about a state community college system conferring a benefit on a for-profit university. http://californiawatch.org/watchblog/one-class-price-10-community-colleges-partner-kaplan Faculty members are miffed that they were not consulted with regard to the transferrability of credits. Faculty members want control over courses that satisfy the requirements of their courses to ensure that Kaplan is offering courses of comparable quality. Some object that using Kaplan is letting the state legislature "off the hook" for coming up with adequate funding for community colleges. Others question whether the Kaplan credits will transfer to colleges and universities other than Kaplan. http://views.ticas.org/2010/02/privatizing_californias_community_colleges.html

A study will be conducted regarding the success rate of students who take the online Kaplan courses. Time will tell whether the arrangement is as detrimental as the critics contend.http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Helping-Ourselves/24312/?sid=cc&utm_source=cc&utm_medium=en

The partnership between community colleges and four-year colleges and universities is expected to become stronger than in the past. Formerly, four-year institutions were not entirely eager to make it easy for community college students to transfer their credits.http://www.usaeducationguides.com/guidance/articles/080703-community-college-credits.jsp Thus, many students with associate degrees found themselves having to take extra classes to be accepted at a four-year institution. http://www.communitycollegereview.com/articles/70

The bleak economy seems to have changed the relationship. Now, rather than disparaging community college degrees, university officials are encouraging students to start off at a community college and making it easier to transfer to four-year institutions. In Maryland, tuition at state universities is three times as much as tuition at public community colleges. Without attending community college for the first two years, some students would be unable to afford college at all. Full cooperation and coordination between community colleges and four-year institutions is a win-win situation for students, parents, community colleges, four-year institutions, and state higher education goals.

Signs of the growing inter-dependence between community colleges and four-year institutions are evident. For example, Maryland officials are working to create state-wide uniform course requirements to facilitate transfers from any state community college to any state university. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-community-college-transfers-20100614,0,7987425.story In Maryland, the synching of the curricula has already been achieved for teacher education, nursing, and engineering. The strategy is working in Maryland and Virginia, where record numbers of transfer students are graduating from four-year public universities. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/16/AR2010061605737.html Recruiters from four-year institutions are visiting community colleges to encourage transfers. The public university system is even funding programs to help community colleges to obtain better graduation rates. Numerous states have developed websites devoted to facilitating transfers. Illinois has a website that informs students how to transfer from one institution of higher education to another. http://www.itransfer.org/ Michigan has a similar website, entitled "Community College Web Portal," designed to answer questions that transfer students may have. http://commcoll.umich.edu/deadlines/

Community colleges all across the country are congratulating their graduates.

• Hostos Community College, a bi-lingual college located in the Bronx, held its graduation ceremony on June 4. http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/american-life/Justice-Sotomayor-Returns-to-Bronx-Roots-to-Cheer-Community-College-Grads-95697344.html Most of the 350 graduates were children of immigrants or immigrants themselves. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the featured speaker. The evening was special for both the gratuates and Sotomayor. Hostos is located in the neighborhood where the Justice grrew up, and her mother graduated from Hostos with a nursing degree. Justice Sotomayor pointed out that many of the graduates were the first college graduates in their families.

• The class of 2010 at Pima Community College, in Tucson, AZ, had 3,144 graduates. http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=12518954 Some graduates were more optimistic than others regarding their prospects for finding employment. A student in health sciences was positive about availability of positions for her speciality of respiratory therapists. In contrast, students in other disciplines expressed concerns about finding employment.

• Hudson County Community College, In Newark, NJ, awarded associates degrees to over 880, a record number, of graduates. The 2010 graduation was the 32nd annual commencement ceremony of the college. The keynote address was given by [[Rev. Jesse Jackson], who encouraged the graduates to dream big. and strive to be a champion. Jackson also spoke against the Arizona immigration law that allows police to question the legal status of individuals while detaining the individual for another reason. http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1275027933118970.xml&coll=3

• Louisiana Delta Community College, in Monroe, LA, had 46 graduates. http://www.ladelta.cc.la.us/ Some were continuing on to complete a B.A. degree; others were older adults fulfilling long-held wishes to complete their degrees. State Representative Rosalind Jones told the graduates that graduation was a beginning rather than an end – a first step. http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20100522/NEWS01/5220314

• Jefferson Community College, in Watertown, NY, awarded degrees to 544 graduates, 36% of whom where military members or families. http://www.sunyjefferson.edu/GeneralInfo/faciliti.html The keynote speaker, Katherine Fenlon, a retired Jefferson Community College teacher, acknowledged not only the achievements of the graduating students but also the support shown by family and friends attending the ceremony. http://www.newzjunky.com/news/0521jcc_commence.htm

• There were 740 graduates at John Tyler Community College in Chester, VA. http://www.jtcc.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=134&Itemid=189 Dr. Patrice Cormier, a university president, gave the commencement address to the 260 graduates attending the ceremony. Cormier spoke on achieving success through sharing, striving, and connecting. http://progress-index.com/news/hundreds-graduate-from-john-tyler-community-college-1.790765

• At [[Mott Community College] in Flint, MI, a diverse group of 500 students graduated with degrees. One graduate had persevered four years to obtain her associates degree. Another graduate, a 53-year-old whose job was transferred overseas, studied to become a professional photographer. A number of students were the first in their families to obtain a college degree. The commencement address was delivered by J.Noah Brown, president and CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees. Brown emphasized that graduating with a degree was a beginning and that students should pursue careers they are passionate about. http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/05/about_500_students_walk_the_st.html

Alabama Community College Bans Tobacco

Starting August 16, Calhoun Community Collegehttp://www.calhoun.cc.al.us/ in Decatur, AL, will join 243 other colleges and universities across the country which ban smoking on campus. It is the first college or university in Alabama to institute a ban. Tobacco products cannot be used, distributed, or sold anywhere on campus. http://www.waaytv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12632470

New Community College for Erie, PA, Area

The Erie Community Foundation announced in June 7 that $1 million is available for the establishment of a regional community college for Erie County, PA. http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100607/NEWS02/306079924 A commuity college will boost educational attainment and income rates in the county, which have consistently fallen below state and national averages. The Foundation created Coalition for Our Community College to solicit community support for the new community college. Area business leaders, nonprofit groups, and county officials were present at the Foundation's offices for the announcement to show their support..

Illegal Immigrants Eligible for Scholarship at CA Community College

Santa Ana College, a community college in Orange County, CA, has established a controversial scholarship for immigrants. Eligible recipents include students with green cards, students with permanent residency, and illegal, undocumented immigrants. The other requirements for eligibility are a 3.0 or higher GPA, demonstrated financial need, and attempting to obtain U.S. citizenship. http://www.dailytitan.com/2010/05/27/scholarship-to-go-to-illegal-immigrants/

The scholarship fund is a memorial to Tam Ngoc Tran, a former student of Sanata Ana, who was an undocumented alien pursuing U.S. citizenship. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/college-250523-tran-santa.html Tran was killed by a drunk driver while pursuing her doctorate at Brown University. She was active in immigrant reform programs, particularly advocating for students to have the opportunity to apply for citizenship and receive federal student loans.

The school has taken some flak from area politicians and citizens, who are concerned that public funds will be used to educate illegal aliens. In fact, the scholarship is funded privately by the Santa Ana Foundation. Critics also object to the use of funds for undocumented students when so many U.S. citizens and legal immigrants need help for education. Others have raised national security concerns. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/28/calif-college-offers-scholarship-to-illegals/

Supporters of the scholarship accuse the detractors of overreacting. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage immigrant students who are on a path to citizenship. The hope is that recipients, like Tran, will continue their education and go on to obtain a degree at a university. http://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-trail/2010/05/28/community-colleges-scholarship-catches-grief.html

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) commenced reconstruction of the site in late 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. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1223835/sept_11_reconstruction_continues_with.html?cat=17

The new Fiterman Hall will contain 14 floors and 390,000 square feet for classrooms, labs, and offices.The project is expected to be completed in 2012. 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

For many students, community college is a stepping stone to a career that will make a positive difference in their quality of life. Some leave community college with the training and skills they need to pursue an occupation. Others go on to additional higher education in their chosen fields. Students who attend community colleges after graduating from high school are on a path to a fulfilling career that will help them support themselves and their families. This section highlights individual students who have distinguished themselves in some aspect of their community college experience.

• Former Drug Addict Excels in Community College and Aspires to Ph.D

LeVaughn Nesbitt was standing on a North Philadelphia street with some friends when a robber approached the group. Nesbitt turned and fled, but a bullet struck him in the knee. That is when Nesbitt, a drug addict, decided to turn his life around. Now 26, Nesbitt then saw that he would end up either in jail, dead, or in a mental institution. Despite his upbringing in a neighborhood rampant with drugs, something inside him turned into a resolve to change direction. He found a haven away from the city and decided his next step was Northampton Community College, in Bethlehem, PA.http://www.northampton.edu/About-NCC.htm In college, Nesbitt used lessons from his life on the streets to help him with the discipline of the course work. Upon graduating from Northampton, Nesbitt received the Trustee Award, the highest honor the community college awards to a student. Nesbitt has been accepted at Lehigh University, where he plans to complete his B.A. degree in economics. He hopes to continue with an M.B.A. and a Ph.D in economics. Faculty members at Northampton predict that Nesbitt will distinguish himself in the economics field and use his education to help others break the cycle of drugs and poverty. http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100613/FEATURES/6130323/-1/news

The Center for Global Advancement of Community Colleges (CGACC) has been formed for the purpose of assisting U.S. community colleges in the global context.http://www.cgacc.org/index.php The organization will serve as a resource for community colleges, federal and state policymakers, and institutional leaders of national and international organizations. http://www.fulbright.org.cy/May%2010%20weekly%20update.pdf

The mission of CGACC is to:

• increase global knowledge and understanding about U.S. community colleges;
• promote cultural awareness;
• advance internationalization efforts;
• initiate partnership opportunities with international entities; and
• serve as a general resource to expand global educational opportunities.

The internationalization endeavors of community colleges that CGACC will address include: http://www.cgacc.org/contents/about.php

• enhancing efforts to promote institutions abroad for recruitment purposes or partnership development;
• educating individuals to function in a global environment;
• promoting a diverse internationally-focused campus;
• advocating involvement in the Fulbright Scholars Program; and
• making grants for new programs or existing initiatives. http://www.nafsa.org/about/default.aspx?id=2512

Several projects are being developed to inform and assist international students interested in attending U.S. community colleges. A video will inform international students about the advantages of U.S. community colleges and explain the steps necessary for an international student to attend college in the U.S. For international students who are enrolled in U.S. community colleges, an online orientation program will be offered for viewing prior to leaving their home countries.

CGACC is led by CEO Christine Johnson and President Kent Farnsworth, both of whom are former community college presidents. The Executive VP for Global and College Alliances is Judy Irwin, former Director of International Programs and Service of the American Association of Community Colleges. http://www.cgacc.org/contents/about.php The leaders are assisted by an Advisory Board and a Global Council, both composed of experts in global education. http://www.bhcc.mass.edu/inside/441?id=170 CGACC has been called a "bright new star on the US higher-education horizon." http://markashwill.wordpress.com/2010/04/03/center-for-global-advancement-of-community-colleges-cgacc/

While most four-year educational institutions have sports programs, only about half of all community colleges participate in intercollegiate athletics. Some community colleges lack the finances to support sports programs. Others have a policy of focusing on academics to the exclusion of other activities. Although it appeared that community colleges were moving toward greater participation in sports, the recent bugetary and funding restrictions have caused some colleges to cut particular sports or entire programs.

Sports programs offered by community colleges vary tremendously as to the particular sports offered and the emphasis on sports in general. Common sports for men and women include: basketball, golf, track and field, tennis, soccer, swimming, and lacrosse. Softball and volleyball are additional women's sports. Men also play baseball, football, and hockey. Athletic scholarships are available at some colleges.

The National Junior College Athletic Association oversees intercollegiate athletics at the community college level. The organization promotes athletics as an important part of a well-rounded community college education. Although the role of athletics in higher education generally is debatable, proponents assert that sports participation develops the values of teamwork and discipline, encourages school spirit, and contributes to recruitment, enrollment, and financial support.

National Junior College Athletic Association, http://www.njcaa.org/<ref/>

<ref>Grace Chen, Athletics in Community Colleges, Community College Review, http://www.communitycollegereview.com/articles/10<ref/>

• As part of its Postsecondary Success initiative, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Dec. 7, 2009, a new award of $12.9 million to improve education, tjhe role of technology, and graduation rates at community colleges. Grants have been given to foundations and institutes for use in their initiatives to teach math and writing using social media and technology, to decrease reliance on remedial math courses, to improve and develop web-based, open-learning environments, and to promote technology-based learning into the math programs of community colleges.http://www.gearlog.com/2009/12/gates_foundation_awards_129m_i.php