Learn what you need to know with this checklist "What To Consider When Deciding Whether To Attend a Community College".
Community College Today - Bring you Into the Future
By Norma G. Kent, Director of communications, American Association of Community College
Students who are looking for a promising future in a well-paid profession need look no further than their nearby community college. Today, community colleges offer preparation for most of the top 10 “hot jobs” identified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (see box), and they do so at an average cost thousands of dollars below that of 4-year colleges and universities.
Community colleges are a uniquely American invention, and they are know for a flexible but no-nonsense approach to higher education. President Clinton paid these institutions the highest compliment when he noted that other businesses “ought to work like a giant community college.” Recently, he acknowledged their important role by proposing a tax credit, which Congress passed, that will make the first 2 years of college available to virtually every citizen. This tax credit effectively makes a community college education the new standard for an educated American society.
Community colleges are no longer the “junior partner” in higher education. After three decades of rapid and consistent growth, they now enroll almost one-half of all undergraduates who attend college in this country. Their ability to adjust to new technologies and the changing demands of the workplace has made them the first choice both for many young students and for an increasing number of older students who return to college to update skills or to pursue entirely new careers.
Fast Growing Jobs, 1994-2005
- Systems analysts
- Computer engineers
- Occupational therapists
- Physical therapists
- Special education teachers
- Paralegals
- Medical records technicians
- Dental hygienists
- Respiratory therapists
- Radiologic technologists and technicians
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
What will you find at your community college? You may not find ivy-covered walls, but you will find a friendly atmosphere and a world of opportunity. Classes are small, typically averaging no more than 20 students per class. Scheduling is flexible, with classes available during the day; at night; on weekends; and, increasingly, via distance-learning technologies that allow students to learn at home, at work, or at other off-campus sites.
Instructors at community colleges are distinguished by their commitment to teaching rather than by their pursuit of independent research, publication, or other academic activities. Because community colleges are so closely allied with the communities they serve, many faculty members are recruited from local business and industry to ensure that faculty is knowledgeable about the needs and requirements of “real-world” jobs. Most community colleges also work with business advisory groups from their service area to ensure that the career education offered reflects current business practices and technologies. For students planning to pursue a bachelor’s or other advanced degree, the community college is an excellent place to start. Community colleges cultivate strong ties with 4-year colleges and universities to help students make a successful transition to senior institutions. An increasing number of community colleges even offer guarantees that credits earned at the 2-year institution will be fully acceptable upon transfer and that career skills learned in college will be directly applicable to on-the –job requirements.
Providing equal opportunity to learn for every student—no matter what level of academic achievement he or she has reached—is the cornerstone of the community college philosophy, but such an approach in no way diminishes the quality of the learning experience. Repeated studies confirm that students who begin their college studies at a community college and go on to transfer perform as well in key areas of study as individuals who start at 4-year colleges or universities.
As much as the student who is starting out, community colleges welcome the student who may be starting over. In fact, the changing nature of our society, a workplace in transition, and continually evolving technologies point to a future in which lifelong learning—individuals coming back to college for recurring intervals of education and training—will be the norm for many of us.
Community colleges offer locations within a few minutes’ drive of 90 percent of the U.S. population. Thus community colleges could well become the real information superhighway, by offering a pathway to success for students of all ages and interests
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