The focus of this paper is to dispel a common view that community colleges do not provide on-campus housing and to provide greater insights into the types of community colleges that provide on-campus housing, the typical student who resides in on-campus housing, a guide to various California community colleges that provide on-campus housing, and the impact that on-campus housing has on student learning outcomes, financial gains for community colleges that provide on-campus housing, and an overview of the lack of data in the area of not only on-campus housing in community colleges, but community colleges at large. According to Cohen and Brawer (2008) access to student housing is one of the fundamental dissimilarities between public community colleges and four-year institutions of higher learning (p. 220). Cohen and Brawer (2008) take the position that community colleges lack the all-encompassing ability to appreciate the connectedness of community in the same fashion as that of four-year colleges or universities. Broader analysis of current data relating to on-campus housing in rural community colleges is three-fold. First, it exposes the lack of concrete observation or empirical data on the issues that surround community colleges with respect to on-campus housing. A wealth of data supports the learning outcomes, financial impact, gains, and drawbacks of on-campus housing, but from the vantage point of on-campus housing at the four year college or university level. Data shared were from several sources, one which dates back to 1998 and the other two from 2005 and 2006. With little research expected from community college faculty and administrators, the community college as a whole suffers from the lack of empirical studies wit...
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..., research, and rewards so richly deserved for the vast numbers of students who continue on to four year colleges and universities, but, more important to those who become gainfully employed and offer substantial return on investments made by the community colleges. Moeck et al (2008) declare that, “On-campus housing plays an important role at America’s 553 rural-serving community college districts” (p. 247). Of the approximate 553 rural-serving community colleges, 11 of them are in the state of California, which has 110 community colleges. According to the California Community College Listings Dormitories (www.cccco.edu) the community colleges that provide on-campus housing are: Columbia College, Cerro Coso Community College – Mammoth Campus, College of the Siskiyous, Lassen College, Reedley College, Shasta College, Taft College, and West Hills College Coalinga.
She includes quotes from George Boggs, president of American Association of Community Colleges, who says, “colleges are going to have to adapt to serve this population,” and that “community colleges have been the most adaptable institutions around…they are very flexible in trying to meet the needs of the students (Sander 784).” Sander makes the connection for the reader that with the influx of baby boomer students colleges will be forced to make changes in an effort to accommodate
Since the 1980’s the cost of attending colleges have increased rapidly. Rising costs of for Medicare, highways and prisons have caused many states to reduce a percentage of their budget for higher education. Colleges and Universities currently face a very serious challenge:
Laura McKenna’s article reports on Sara Goldrick-Rab’s research on community college students that struggle with food security. Goldrick-Rab’s survey of ten community colleges nationwide “suggest[s] that more than half of all community-college students struggle with food insecurity” (McKenna). The article explains the two types of food insecurity the research found within the students: poverty before going into college and poverty caused by higher education cost. The study also shows that many of these community college students are not the typical young adults fresh from high school, and that many are individuals with families and jobs and could be part of the factor of food insecurity. McKenna points out how hunger can affect these students’
In Rebecca Cox's "The College Fear Factor," the reader is exposed to the routines and fears of being a student attending a community college. The students interviewed for the book appeared to fear adapting to the life a college student and the fear of failing more than they were concerned about how microaggression affected them. This can be attributed to the fact that community colleges offer a more diverse student body where students share similar life experiences. Social class, gender, and races come in second when the students are attempting college for the first time than compared to minority students who attend elite schools and face a new and alien culture to them; That of the students who are rich and privileged and are able to more easily afford these elite universities. Students who by the fortune of being born into privilege may not have known or felt the struggles that a minority student on campus would face. For example, minorities "[...] are severely underrepresented on most campuses. At Oberlin, for instance, black students form only 5.2 percent of students, Hispanic students 7.2 percent, and Asian Americans 4.2 percent. Minorities, by virtue of their being in the minority, do not and cannot exert robust social control of any kind at elite universities like Oberlin." (Runyowa par. 18). In losing the diverse environment that community colleges face, the
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.
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...
When the time comes to talk about college, a large number of questions arise. Although many come forward, the first question is if college is even affordable. The main problem families’ face is the difficulty to pay for college, especially with the current economy’s condition. Patrick Callan, president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, states “Given the financial hardship of the country, it’s simply astonishing that colleges and universities would have this kind of increases” (Lewin). What if a young adult has a dream to attend a certain university in a different state? Residency regulations cause the cost of out-of-state schools to raise tuition to almost three times the cost of in-state; however, this alters many students’ decisions on where to attend college. While personally experiencing this problem, I was forced to go to an in-state school instead of following my dream and attending Auburn University. ...
Clearly, HBCUs provide several benefits to African-American students. Not only have they helped to combat the cycle of discrimination that minority students experienced before the civil rights initiatives of the 1960s, but they strive to provide a warm, supportive and inclusive academic environment that addresses African-American college students as a whole person. Additionally, HBCUs are increasing their efforts to ensure that higher education is accessible, affordable and achievable for individuals with unique socioeconomic challenges. Despite obstacles, historically Black institutions will continue to play a vital and significant role in the fabric of higher education.
As can be seen, The many negative assumptions about community college students were clearly proven to be wrong and misinformed. hopefully, I have put these unfair claims to rest. However, no matter what assumptions people may have about community college students, I can safely say that we will prove them to be wrong by continuingly be hardworking students in order
A recent survey asked college students the top reasons for re-applying to a university and the top reasons for not re-applying. They had around 58% of the university respond the survey which is around 793 students out of 1373 students (Cleave). The researchers found that the most influential reasons why students did return to school was because of the convenience and the social life (Cleave). On the other hand, the top reasons students did not return to college because of living conditions, and the shear cost of attending (Cleave). This survey further listed the reasons for not re-applying which were, students did not make good enough grades to be re-administered (low GPA), living carders were too noisy, to support a family, rooms were too small, food quality was poor, they had little to no privacy, residency on campus was too expensive, and taking out loans every year was putting them into too much
As a low-income student in high school, I used my application fee waivers, to apply to four Cal State Universities and four University of California schools. I did not apply to any private universities, for the simple fact that I lacked guidance and information about the schools as well as the probability that I would be accepted to such schools. When I was denied from my top choice (the University of California, Los Angeles), I decided to attend the best school I was accepted to—the University of California, Santa Barbara. In the following section, I will discuss the individual, societal and cultural influences in my college choice process that led to my decision to attend UCSB.
Discounted Dreams: High Hopes and Harsh Realities at America’s Community College. Prod. John Merrow. PBS Home Video 2007. DVD.
Tuition over the years have made it the struggle for students and their parent to make ends meet. The dorms cost a lot that make it payment really high. Living off campus would make life so much easier for parents and myself because the cost of the school would not cost as much as it does living in the dorms. The school should let students live off campus if they have 2 or more people living with them. If the school did let students live off campus I feel like they should be able to have room checks just like they do in the dorms. If the parents of the students let them live off campus the school should be able to let them do it too. Because really the parents of the students have more authority over the school. I feel that now that a lot of the dorms are getting broken into that it would be way safer to live off campus. That way I know that it is my responsibility if someone was to break into my house. If anything is broking into in our room even if it is locked I don’t think the school pays to get any of the stuff replaced. So living off campus can help students to have responsibility and become a real adult in the college
Newbold, Mehta, and Forbus (2010) define commuter students as those who do not live on campus; this population makes-up approximately 75% of students in colleges and universities in the United States. During the 1960s through 1980s, new federal and state policies and programs, such as the Higher Education Act of 1965 that created need-based financial aid programs, expanded access to higher education, causing a rapid growth of commuter students (Kim & Rury, 2011). Commuter students brought unique needs and challenges, including feelings of isolation, the need to balance multiple life roles, different relationships and support systems, and financial and time considerations of housing and transportation costs (Newbold, Mehta, & Forbus, 2011). Despite this influx of commuter students, the environment and structure of institutions failed to satisfy commuter student needs. Instead, colleges and uni...
...school. Time is not an issue for students living on campus because they reside at the college, which makes it a lot easier to get to class. Whereas, students, who commute struggle to get up in order to catch a bus or two to get to class on time. Students living on campus can spend extra money on other things such as movies since they don’t have to pay for food or transportation. In contrast, students who commute need to save money on the side in order to have access to public transportation to get to class and pay for food at the school. Students living on campus are familiar with places around the college and they know more students. However, students commuting don’t have time for this since they are more worried about getting home on time. Living on campus should be considered by most college student since it appears to be a lot less stressful than living at home.