ccptt 2012commcoll

Community Colleges as a Springboard to Educational

SuccessDr. Fay M. Butler, Director of Student Engagement

LaGuardia Community College/CUNY

Community Colleges as a Springboard to Educational Success

• There are two Proposed Workshop outcomes/objectives

• The first objective is to review the role of the community college in the current higher education landscape.

• The second objective is to offer suggestions on how we can prepare students to make the transition to the community college.


Workshop Outline• The Community College -Overview, History,

Mission• The Community College Today and the Economic

Downturn• Unique Characteristics/Diversity of offerings• Preparing your students to Transition


Brief History and Overview of the Community College• Founded in 1901, Joliet Junior College in Illinois is the

oldest existing public two-year college. In the early years, the colleges focused on general liberal arts studies.

• During the Depression of the 1930s, community colleges began offering job-training programs as a way of easing widespread unemployment. After World War II, the conversion of military industries to consumer goods created new, skilled jobs.


Brief History and Overview of the Community College

• This economic transformation along with the GI Bill created the drive for more higher education options. In 1948, the Truman Commission suggested the creation of a network of public, community-based colleges to serve local needs.

http://www.aacc.nche.edu/AboutCC/history/Pages/gibill.aspx


Brief History and Overview of the Community College•Community colleges became a national network in the 1960s with the opening of 457 public community colleges - more than the total in existence before that decade

. Baby boomers coming of age fueled enrollment growth. •The construction involved in this gigantic growth of facilities

was funded by a robust economy and supported by the social activism of the time. The number of community

colleges has steadily grown since the 1960s. At present, there are 1,166 community colleges in the United States.

When the branch campuses of community colleges are included, the number totals about 1,600.

http://www.aacc.nche.edu/AboutCC/history/Pages/ccgrowth.aspx



http://www.aacc.nche.edu/AboutCC/history/Documents/np10.pdf

http://www.aacc.nche.edu/AboutCC/history/Documents/np10.pdf


The Community College Today•Nearly half of all undergraduates, and more than 50 percent of all Black and Latino students attend community colleges

(American Association of Community Colleges, AACC, 2006)• Traditionally, our community colleges have been critical

portals of entry to higher education for underserved students. They enroll high proportions of Black, Latino and Native

American Students and high proportions of students from lower income and working class families. (Rhoades, 2012)


The Community College Today

•The openness of the community college doesn’t stop with academic preparation because it welcomes students of any age ( Mellow and

Heelan, 2008).

• In the 1996-97 academic year, 9.3 million people took credit courses at community colleges. Another 5 million took noncredit classes, the majority of which were workforce training courses. Since 1901, at least 100 million people have attended community colleges.


The Community College Today• Each community college is a distinct educational

institution, loosely linked to other community colleges by the shared goals of access and service. Open

admissions and the tradition of charging low tuition are among the practices they have in common. But

each community college has it own mission.

http://www.aacc.nche.edu/AboutCC/history/Pages/mission.aspx


The Community College Today

• Community colleges are a vital part of the postsecondary education delivery system.

• They serve almost half of the undergraduate students in the United States, providing open access to postsecondary

education, preparing students for transfer to 4-year institutions, providing workforce development and skills training, and

offering noncredit programs ranging from English as a second language to skills retraining to community enrichment programs

or cultural activities.


The Community College Today and the Economic Downturn

•In the face of rising tuition costs, many students are opting for the local community college to get

an associates degree or to tale core classes• Community colleges offer a wide variety of

programs• Community Colleges can be a good choice for

students unsure of their degree path


The Community College and the Economic downturn

•AACC 2011 Survey of Community College Presidents surveyed Presidents and district chancellors. There were 10

questions. There was a 46% response rate from 448 respondents. This group was surveyed from mid March to

early April 2011


The Community College and the Economic downturn• Key Findings

•Enrollment gains continued but slower than in 2009 and 2010•Cheaper price tag is very attractive to many students

• Growth in online courses continues•Instructional expansion without the necessary instructional

infrastructure


The Community College and the Economic downturn• Key Findings

•Health care areas register the greatest growth for three years• Critical Issues

•Continuing Pressures for assessment and outcomes despite budget cuts.

• Continue to do more with less


The Community College and the Economic downturn

•Rising enrollments mean increased demands for institutional services and support

•What makes the Community College Attractive to so many students now

•Unique characteristics/Diversity of Offerings

Community Colleges as a Springboard to Educational SuccessUnique Characteristics: Academics, Job Training and workforce

development

• Globalization is driving changes in our economy, and the need for an educated workforce has never been greater. The majority of new jobs that will be created by 2014 will require some postsecondary education.

• In addition, the demographics of the workforce are changing. As a result, employers increasingly rely on the very students who currently are least likely to complete their education.


Unique Characteristics: Academics, Job Training and workforce development

• Without community colleges, millions of students and adult learners would not be able to access the education they need to be prepared for further education or the workplace.


Unique characteristics: Academics, Job Training and workforce development

• Community colleges have a special responsibility for workforce development (AACC).

• In addition, they assume primary responsibility, in the public system, for offering developmental courses, programs, and other educational services for individuals who seek to develop the skills needed to pursue college-level study or enter the workforce (AACC).


Unique Characteristics: Academics, Job Training and workforce development

Statistics• Headcount Enrollment (Fall 2009)• By program type Credit 8 M Noncredit 5 M Total 13 M• Degrees and Certificates Awarded (2008–2009)• Associate degrees—630,000

Certificates—425,000• Looking at the diverse offerings, what do we need to know and

how do we prepare students to transition?


Preparing your students to Transition to Community CollegesManaging and Negotiating the process

•Pre application Activities •Understand application procedures for academic admission

and admission to non credit programs•The choices could be confusing and overwhelming

•Placement testing, remedial courses



Pre application Activities •Certificate programs, have specific requirements- different

start and end dates from the normal semester, students need to understand the nature of the non credit side of the

house as well•Attend at least one Open House- either virtual or Live



•Pre application Activities •Gain a working knowledge of the Community Colleges in

your immediate vicinity•Help your students make decisions or direct them to the appropriate professionals in enrollment management or

student affairs



•Your Student has been admitted- now what•Advise your students to attend New Student orientation,

either virtual or Live•Tell them to take notes of who’s who and to ask questions.

There is no such thing as a stupid question



•Your Student has been admitted- now what

•Advise students NOT TO MISS ANY ADVISEMENT/TESTING AND REGISTRATION

APPOINTMENTS. !!!!!


Preparing your students to Transition to Community CollegesWho’s Who on the campus – those persons that are

critical for the first semesterCritical services for student success at the Community

College•Advising, counseling, financial services, non credit staff,

student development, student support services


Preparing your students to Transition to Community CollegesWho’s Who on the campus – those persons that are critical

for the first semesterCritical services for student success at the Community College

•Academic counseling and tutoring, bursar, campus safety, residential life, registrar, campus ombudsmnan

•Advise your students to make certain they know what is in the student handbook, that is their contract with the institution


Preparing your students to Transition to Community CollegesStudent Life and Student Development at the Community

College•Encourage your students to attend any club fair or service

learning fairs. These generally happen early in the semester



College•Student Development Theory and Student Life•The most basic tenet of Astin's Theory of

Involvement is that students learn more the more they are involved in both the academic and social

aspects of the collegiate experience.



College•Student Development Theory and Student Life

•An involved student is one who devotes considerable energy to academics, spends much time on campus,

participates actively in student organizations and activities, and interacts often with faculty (Astin,

1984, p.292).



College•Students will have options of participating in

extracurricular activities-sports, music•Co- Curricular Activities-Leadership Development

•Service Learning- Mentoring at Risk Youth


Workshop Summary•Community colleges are a vital part of the postsecondary education delivery system.

•With the cheaper price tag, Community Colleges have become a real option for many students, even those who have the background to attend four year

institutions.•The Community College- a springboard to

educational success

Community Colleges as a Springboard to Educational SuccessReferences

• Astin,A. (1993) What Matters in College. Jossey- Bass, San

Francisco, CA• American Association of Commmunity Colleges Website

-http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Pages/default.aspx• Campus Computing Project. (2011) The Community Colleges and

the Economy. American Association of Community Colleges.• Haurwitz, R. (2010). Community colleges face funding, classroom

challenges amid rising enrollment. Statesman.com (December 29, 2010)

• Mellow, G &Heelan, C. (2008). Minding The Dream . Rowman and Littlefield, New York, NY


References • Rhoades, G. (2012) Closing the Door, Increasing the Gap:

Who’s not going to (community) college?. Center for the Future of Higher Education.

• Rosenbaum, J.E.,Deil-Amen, R & Person, A. (2006) After Admission: From College Access to College Success. Russell Sage Foundation, New York.

• Taylor, P., Fry, R., Wang W.,& Dockerman, D. (2010) College Enrollment Hits an all time high, fueled by community college surge. Pew Research Center