In America, there are numerous colleges, universities, trade schools and technical schools. Some cause financial problems, some you’ll spend lots of time such as 4 to 6+ years and some you won’t. Community colleges are only 36% of the tuition and fees at a 4-year college/university, which make it more affordable than a traditional college (Snyder 1). They only last two years if you are a full-time student. Community colleges are the step brothers of four-year universities. They were placed within communities for local education that people can have easier access to. Also, you can get your bachelor’s degree faster if attended and transfer to a four-year college. Nevertheless, community colleges are on the rise since it is a shorter time period, …show more content…
They are an access point for education and workforce in town and are a real catalyst. Also, stats from the Department of Labor had shown that the job growth of how those with associate’s degrees were outpacing those with more advanced degrees. The courses offered in community colleges come up to STEM jobs and healthcare jobs which are the leading jobs right now. The leaders in the economy are looking for workers in these fields rather than literacy and related fields (AACC …show more content…
The federal funding contributes to the classes that are offered in these two-year and four-year schools. Also, from 2012-2014, older students, that were in community college, enrollment decreasing has been the most consistent and highest of all age groups (Juskiewicz 3). The “Affordable Care Act” and the “No Worker Left Behind” where federal funding that interfered with community colleges nationwide. In response to the decline in enrollment, many professors were laid off and their contracts were shorter and because of that the next school year the students were or could be without a professor. Also there was a $4.3 million budget deficit that hurt the community college system.
In 1960 there were 315 two- year institutions had enrolled 392,000 students, but by 1976, tactically tripled with 926 two-year institutions and above 4 million students (Breneman, Nelson 2-3). These were when community colleges became booming. For one, there were several reasons why the rapid growth: baby boom, pioneered the "open door" philosophy, and it is great for older part-time
The final assumption that is not as expressed as often is the thought that Community colleges have low academic standards. However, this is just simply not true. students usually have to take placement tests in order to qualify for college level work. Technical and special programs have high standards and students compete to enroll. Going off that, community colleges just offer extra support to students to see them succeed.
In the article “ Two Years are better than Four” written by Liz Addison she makes her claim very early on in the paper by stating that community college is the best option, because it has opportunities for any type of person. She goes to tell all of the advantages throughout the article. While in “College Prepares People for Life,” written by Freeman Hrabowski, states his claim being college teaches you more than just education but never goes on to tell you how college teaches you these things. With both claims explained, it is made clear that Liz Addison gives us a better look on how community colleges benefit everyone rather than Hrabowski barley mentioning his claim at all.
Universities can be expensive, especially if the school is out of state or in current residency. Attending a community college to save money is a smart option for students.
For something seemingly so obvious, it is often left out of the conversation. Rick Perlstein wrote about the change in “student life” and how it is “no longer all that important”(Perlstein), and Liz Addison wrote mostly about culture and the available beginning. Both fail to give justice to the central idea of increasing your level of education. Due to this idea, I disagree with part of Addison’s argument. If the purpose is to increase education, then how can two years be better than four? Technically speaking, an associate degree from community college is half of what a bachelors degree would be from a four year university. While everything has a starting point, where it finishes if often what is most important. The value of a start in community college, in my opinion, is that you can eventually get into a four year school you could not previously have gone to. I imagine Addison brings up her degree from the university she attended before mentioning the two community colleges she
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
No matter the previous career path, preventive circumstances, prior academic history or lack of self-confidence, these colleges provide the tools for anyone to further their education. The common students at these facilities understand the importance of education because they’ve experienced the beast of life. One could argue that perhaps this understanding goes a bit deeper than that of one at a four year institution. Any way you slice it, community colleges offer the ability for everyone to academically arrive on common ground. This should be a triumph, not a
...accessible for all students. In his article, Murray states, “Employers do not value what the student has learned, just that the student has a degree.” (Murray 233) Similarly, employers often do not value where the degree is from, just that one has been achieved. Thus, community college is the quintessential choice to not only “break the norm” of a B.A., but to aid in financial stability while doing so. Addison’s counterargument strongly disagrees with Murray’s overall argument, that college is not necessary.
Community colleges have been tool used by many American students and families as a means of affordable education for better life for themselves and their children. Community colleges has played a big role in helping middle and lower income families who can 't afford to go to 4 years colleges ,the chance to educate themselves and their children. Community college was created in order to give basic liberal , technical and vocational education to all willing to be educated.
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.
The two advantages are that you have more time to explore fields you want to study in and people who can’t afford college can get a college education. The two disadvantages are that there is a limited amount of majors and universities will have a higher expectation for two-year community colleges. In today 's society, there are many families that can 't afford college and have to take loans. The government should be able to take care of those needs. When people come fresh out of high school, a lot of people don’t usually know what they want to do with their life. There are reasons to why they might not offer particular majors at a community college such a budget and resources. Since community colleges would be free for people to apply to, it would be harder to transfer to a four-year
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...
I wholeheartedly endorse Addison’s argument community colleges contain an environment that allow their student, especially the high school students to get used to the adult live in a timely manner without affecting their grades. But, at some point all those high school students are growing up to become adults, where on their own they will have to manage and balance everything, it is not really
So the system that is supposed to lead to financial stability later in life causes families to use nearly one hundred percent of their revenue in a given year to continue the cycle for their kin. The main culprit in this treacherous cycle is, you guessed it, the government. According to Paul F. Campos in his article “The Real Reason College Tuition Costs So Much” he cites Sandy Baum saying, “it’s not that colleges are spending more money to educate students, it’s that they have to get that money from someplace to replace their lost state funding — and that’s from tuition and fees from students and families.” (Campos). Essentially, the government has been cutting funding over the last decade due to various reasons. The recession in 2007 was a major contributor to this loss of funding. In fact, Lynn O 'Shaughnessy writes in her article “Why college tuition keeps rising”, “Since 2008, when the recession hit, total public funding for higher education has declined by 14.6 percent.” (.O’ Shaughnessy). Public funding is a lifeline for middle and lower class families when it comes to sending their children off to college, with such devastating cuts it is nearly impossible for
While universities can range from having 20-1000 participants at a time, community colleges usually have no more than 50 participants in a class. As a result of such a large class size, it is harder for a professor to be able to develop the one-on-one time with a student. Due to most community colleges having a lower number of participants, it becomes easier for a student to reach out and ask questions and receive proper answers.
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.