Community colleges have historically operated on three major sources of revenue—tuition and fees, local taxes and state appropriations. Federal funding to community colleges is largely funneled through student financial aid for tuition and fees. Although an area for potential revenue growth, other sources of revenue such as private donations, grants, and auxiliary services represent a relatively small portion of community college budgets. Originally, community college funding depended largely on local funding with support from tuition and fees. State support of community colleges entered the picture in the 1940s. Over time, state level funding outpaced local funding of community colleges, but tuition and fees remained relatively constant as a percentage of revenue. According to Cohen, “the percentage of income from various sources for public two-year colleges in 2010 showed tuition and fees at 16%, federal funds at 23%, state funds at 30%, local funds at 18%, private gifts and grants at 1%, sales and services at 4%, and other at 8%” (Cohen, Brawer, & Kisker, 2013). It is important to note that the 23% revenue from federal funds in 2010 was a result of nonrecurring economic stimulus funds and represented a significant increase in federal funds to community colleges over the 5-8% more typical of federal funding. While the above figures represent national averages, percentages for funding of community colleges vary widely by state and are dependent on the organizational structure of community colleges within each state. In states with large community college systems higher percentages of state level funding exists, whereas a few states are still structured under the historical funding basis of greater local support for community col... ... middle of paper ... ...in the number of full-time employees in favor of part-time employees, especially faculty; increases in student to teacher ratios; reductions in course offerings; reductions in student support services, especially those not essential to core missions; and many other measures aimed at improving efficiency. In addition to these efforts, community colleges are exploring ways to increase revenue streams through entrepreneurial ventures, expanded fundraising to include endowments, and practical options such as differential tuition. These alternative funding sources are likely to become critical for community college financial stability. According to Romano, it would be wise “to anticipate a continuation of the secular decline in public sources of revenue and to prepare for increasing cost pressure from both enrollment increases and a rising cost structure” (Romano, 2012).
College is marketed towards students as an essential part of building a successful future. The United States “sells college” to those who are willing to buy into the business (Lee 671). With the massive amounts of student debts acquired every year, and the rising costs of
Allan and Davis mention the spike of college cost since 1995 has increased by 150 percent; student debt has increased 300 percent since 2003, and with education, second to the mortgage industry in the nation’s debt, America needs to redirect their attention to the future and focus on education (Allan n. pg). Budget cuts from national to state
How important is a college education? Throughout Thomas L. Freidman’s book, The World is Flat, Freidman supports that it is important for more Americans to get a college education. If America is able to produce jobs and educate people then we will be able to survive in a flat world and we will be able to compete better with other countries. Many Americans today would like the opportunity to go to college but many factors are holding them back. One of the many obstacles is money. The concern today is, for the first two years of community college should there be funding
The California Community Colleges (CCC) system is composed of 108 colleges organized into 72 districts that serve more than 1.4 million students statewide. Under the direction of the CCC board of governors, the Chancellor’s Office provides statewide guidance and leadership to the community colleges. In addition, the voters in each district elect a board of trustees charged with developing local policies that govern the day-to-day operations at the district’s colleges, including overseeing the compensation of teaching faculty and other employees. For the fall 1999 semester, the districts reported to the Chancellor’s Office a total population of 41,754 teaching faculty, of which 28,180 (67 percent) were classified as part-time and 13,574 (33
As for state funding, the community colleges can look for other grants or government help to improve their institutions because the students themselves already get enough aid without the program trying to be implemented by Obama. The lower and middle class students will also be completing vigorously for spots in the community college campuses and that will only create a more hostile system to run. Michele Siqueiros said “ affordability doesn’t help if a student can’t get into the right class or find help figuring out what classes to take,” which supports that fact that there isn’t even enough room for all these students to go to community college; they don’t have the sufficient amount of space. Those “60 billion over 10 years” would be better spent on lowering and aiding students who want to pursue a higher education in public universities, that way it’s ensured these students will have the resources needed to help them get those bachelor degrees the Obama plan hopes for many
There isn't anything more important to community colleges than the certainty that they can and should provide all qualified people who are looking to be accepted with admittance (Vaughan). The people of the community college represent forty-four percent of all undergraduates and forty-nine percent of students attending college for the first time (David). These students include a lot of minority students, students with a low social standing and the non-standard (age twenty-five and older) student who commonly enters college less academically equipped (David). Most community colleges have made immense advancement in reducing a lot of geographical and economic blockades that have in the past limited college admittance (David). Community colleges are to be expected to present significant support to increasing occupation proficiency in the future as additional workers realize they must continue to improve their ability all the way through their profession (Black). Many people believe, that because these students are less likely to be ready for college, that they have a better chance of failing (Weis). All students should have the right to expand their knowledge through higher education regardless of how they did in high school.
Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus report in their essay “Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admission?” what is expected from universities in exchange of their high costs. Currently, the price of education has duplicated its cost in comparison to the last generation (Hacker and Dreifus 179). Making a huge investment and getting poor results are the reasons what make parents and students hesitate before choosing a college. Hacker and Dreifus emphasize that colleges that are doing well their job share factors that make worth paying high tuition fees. These factors include: close relationships between professors and students, an adequate use of technology, and access to scholarships or part time jobs to make education affordable. Considering the
I’m currently enrolled in Montgomery College, located in Maryland. Montgomery College is a community college. Community colleges are different in comparison to four-year universities. I had a choice of either getting a job or going to college. There are many reasons why I choose to go to Montgomery College. I chose to go to college because I want to pursue a degree in Psychology. When choosing a college, there are a lot of decisions to make and you have to choose what’s best in your interest. In today’s society, community colleges take up a lot of the students going to pursue their education. President Obama has proposed to make all community colleges free for all Americans and I agree with this statement. People have different perspectives
For the past few decades, receiving a college education has been a stressed importance in today’s society. However it is often misunderstood that attending a 4-year school is the best and only way to go. Following this belief, many students attend these schools with out being academically, financially, or mentally prepared. Unfortunately students like this have failed to over look the more realistic options available to them, such as community college. Junior college is a resource available to anyone regardless of his or her previous academic performance. The variety of courses and the inexpensive tuition gives students flexibility to explore the many options presented to them. Though Universities hold more prestige, community colleges provide endless opportunities for students who aren’t fully prepared for a 4-year education
As the high school chapter is coming to a close, many students have to make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. Hopefully, for many that decision is to enroll in a college and attain a higher education. However, as tuition costs rise, students have to take a second look at their options for a better future. A community college is that second look for many because it is the less expensive option. From 2007-2009, enrollment for community colleges has increased by 24 percent (“College costs and the CPI”). Students aren’t choosing a college for educational purposes because they are overwhelmed by financial issues. They are attending community colleges so they will be able to graduate with a lower debt. Some seniors have wanted to attend a certain university all their life and they work toward that goal through grade school; however, they are hindered by soaring tuition for that college. Students should be able to attend a private university if they mee...
In conclusion, in order to keep this country functioning in proper way, community colleges in America should not be free. For starters, not everyone can have the privilege to receive a college education for the soul reason of scarcity. Next, free community college will affect our economy in means of higher taxes, and an increased national debt. Finally, junior colleges will plummet in terms of value. The cost of higher education is without a
The skyrocketing price of college tuition is causing a tremendous concern over whether higher education will be a viable financial concept to the average citizen over the next decades. Some families have opted to explore different means of obtaining a higher education for their children as these costs escalate. There is overwhelming evidence that colleges need to restructure the way they are run because tuition prices are increasing at a rapid rate causing changes in the way students fund their education and in the way the government provides educational subsidies.
Unfortunately, our community college is confronted with a problematic issue of retention. Kramer (2007) emphasizes that colleges and universities experience a significant loss of revenue due to retention. As a result, some institutions suffer a loss of support from public sectors and private benefactors. But our college is more concern about our student 's welfare. With that said, to combat the community college problems
As colleges’ funds dry up, colleges must turn to the public to further support higher education. By raising state taxes, colleges can collect funds to help improve the school’s budgets. The state provides funds from the taxes for colleges to receive a certain amount for each student currently enrolled. All community and traditional four year colleges collect these funds in order to maintain the school’s budget. As reporter, Eric Kelderman states, “less than a third of colleges’ budget is based from state taxes”. The school’s budget is how colleges are able to provide academic support programs, an affordable intuition, and hire more counselors. Colleges must now depend on state taxes more than ever for public colleges. Without collecting more funds from state taxes, as author, Scott Carlson explains how Mr. Poshard explains to senators “our public universities are moving quickly toward becoming private universities…affordable only to those who have the economic wherewithal to them” (qtd. in.) Public colleges must be affordable to anyone who wishes to attend. If colleges lack to provide this to students, it can affect dropouts, a student’s ability focus, and cause stress. The problem of lack of funding is that colleges have insufficient funds. Therefore, the best possible solution for the problem of lack of funding would be increasing and collecting more funds from state taxes.
Budget cuts are continuously present and affect the way state governments are able to manage their funds. Researcher Michael A. Rebell has found, “‘A survey of forty-six states with available data indicated that… thirty-seven are spending less on education in 2011-2012 than they did last year, thirty are spending less than they did in 2008, and half of them have cut funding by more than ten percent since the 2008 recession’” (Rebell, “Safeguarding the Right” 1859). In all states, budget cuts are resulting in a reduction in the quantity of resources, educat...