I am disturbed by your opinion of community colleges. And, yes, I said 'opinion' in spite of what your surveys claim. I graduated from a 4-year university, worked in my field for many years, and now teach at a community college. This is my choice. I left my previous job to do this.
Community colleges have a variety of programs, many of which are terminal programs, meaning they are not intended to transfer to a university but rather prepare a student for a specific job field within the two years. They learn all the skills needed for their chosen field in two years and are highly employable.
Then there are programs specifically designed to transfer to a university. These transfer programs are the equal in every way to freshman and sophomore level courses at 4-year institutions. These students move on to universities to complete their last 2 years. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples when looking at how many community college students finish at universities.
It's true that some universities try to snub community college students but that number is small and is happening less and less. It's a matter of arrogance on the part of the university, and has nothing to do with the true quality of the student.
Okay, maybe there are a few differences between 2-year transfer students and those who start out at a univerity.
1) Starting at a community college means they are less likely to be neck-deep in college loans when they graduate. They receive the first 2 years of a quality college education at a bargain price. Community college means more affordable, not less quality!
2) Our community college students are not "numbers" to us. Our classes are small and more intimate. We know their names, we take the time to hear their stories, and we care whether or not they graduate! When students know their instructors care and expect them to succeed, the students rise to the challenge.
There is good and bad at every type of academic institution. Don't lump everyone together. Don't be fooled by "shiny, flashy" names. Don't assume that "plain brown bags" can't contain wonderful treasures.
Penny Peelerof NC10:21AM September 11, 2009
While you state that people who graduate from community college are unlikely to get a 4 year degree, you miss the point of many community colleges: the two year health care degree.
I attended a very prestigious 4 year college, Case Western Reserve University, for one year. I then transfered to a community college because I wished to pursue a career in laboratory science, and at that time, there were no 4 year Medical Technology programs in Cleveland, OH.
The college I attended, Cuyahoga Community College, has a huge emphasis on nursing and allied health. People who graduate from their two year programs have something a lot of 4 year college grads do not have: a job! Health care, while not recession proof, is recession resistant. There is a shortage of nurses, laboratorians and other allied health professionals in this country that is not likely to vanish any time soon.
Jennifer Nolen, MLT (ASCP)of OH8:17AM September 11, 2009
Just because a student attends a community college does not mean that they are less likely to graduate. It has nothing to do with the environment and everything to do with the student's motivation. The same would occur at a four-year university; regardless of the environment, if the student is not motivated, they will not succeed.
What does this mean? The article is a ploy to get students to spend money in an economically drowning education system. If the credibility of a community colleges are trashed, then the general population will waste more of their money on an overpriced education.
Jane 'pre-med-cc' Studentof CA10:09PM September 10, 2009
Anybody with an IQ above seventy can get a college degree in sociology. President Obama is proof positive. Minority points can even get you a Summa Cum Laude from Harvard Law School. Degrees in science, engineering, nursing, medicine, architecture, and business from good schools are almost impossible to achieve without a solid high school background in math and science. Inner city public schools do not offer such education opportunity because they are dumbed down by the teachers' union and a complete lack of classroom discipline.
Reader Comments
Back to article
Penny Peeler of NC 10:21AM September 11, 2009
Jennifer Nolen, MLT (ASCP) of OH 8:17AM September 11, 2009
Jane 'pre-med-cc' Student of CA 10:09PM September 10, 2009
Joe Teacher of DC 6:57PM September 10, 2009