Copyright© 1999 by School Services of California, Inc.

September 3, 1999

Community Colleges Make Sense For a
Growing Number of Students

Since the 1960's, when the number of community colleges expanded nationally at a rate of nearly one per week to provide baby boomers with greater access to higher education - today, they total 1,123 nationwide with California the leader with 106 colleges. The colleges have been best known as training grounds for the workforce. The California Community Colleges have always stressed a dual mission of workforce training/retraining and transfer to four-year institutions. But now, across the nation many students are turning to community colleges for a broader education as well.

Community colleges are the first stop for about 4 in 10 college-bound high school graduates. The schools are a cost-effective way to complete the first two years of colleges. They also attract students who have a bachelor's degree and want to explore another field.

What are some of the other reasons students attend community colleges?

• Community colleges provide flexible class schedules to accommodate students with full-time jobs.
  
• Community colleges make sense for students who don't have an inkling of what career they'd like to pursue. Many colleges offer intensive guidance counseling.
  
• Community colleges can also be a good choice for individuals who need a lot of attention from instructors. Class sizes are smaller at community colleges than four-year institutions.

Community Colleges May Not be The Right Place For All Students

Some educators believe that two-year schools aren't right for everyone. They contend that if students know they need a bachelor's degree to pursue their chosen career and they're not constrained financially, the community college experience may not be the best option. It creates an extra barrier students have to go through.

In addition, community colleges are not for those students who yearn for the experience of living in a dorm or spending Saturday afternoons cheering for the home football team. While most community colleges offer a wide array of extracurricular activities, the students commute and many work full-time, so they have less time for social activities.

Whether a community college is the right fit ultimately depends on the individual and the school nearby. Educators urge prospective students to thoroughly check out their local school and ask the question, "what does the school have for me?"

-- Arnold Bray