Community College News

College students in Michigan hoping for another option in four-year degrees will have to wait a little longer. A bill to allow community colleges in Michigan to offer a handful of bachelor’s degrees has stalled out for the moment, while legislators determine the constitutionality of the proposal. Despite the recent roadblock, many Michigan lawmakers and educators are optimistic they will soon have an affordable option to offer students who are hindered by the cost and location of four-year universities and colleges throughout the state.

Providing More Choices

According to an article at Central Michigan Life, a bill that would allow community colleges to offer select four-year degree programs passed through the State House last June. The bill then went to the Senate’s Committee on Education for review, where it is currently under discussion. The bill would allow for a handful of career-oriented degree programs to be offered at community colleges statewide, including programs in energy production, concrete technology, maritime technology, culinary arts, and nursing.

“Some of the degrees are not offered by any of the universities in the state,” Matt Miller, public relations director for Mid Michigan Community College, told Central Michigan Life. “Some of the community colleges do offer associate degrees in a couple of these areas, but in order to get their bachelor’s, they have to go someplace else, so it would be helpful to our students to have this option.”

Most of the areas of study included on

While community colleges appreciated the shout-out they received during President Obama’s recent State of the Union address, most say that accomplishing the president's proposal will take more resources than they currently have. Even the schools with programs similar to those the President proposed said they could do much more if they had more – from state and federal governments. While it remains to be seen whether additional funding will come, the first step – raising awareness for community colleges' critical role in today’s employment scene – was accomplished through the President’s speech.

What the President Said

According to a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education, President Obama focused on the plight of many hard-working Americans who cannot “enjoy the American Dream” like previous generations did. The President referred to the problem as “the defining issue of our time,” and stated in his speech, “We shouldn’t settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of Americans barely get by.” The president called for “an economy where everyone gets a fair shot and does their fair share, and plays by the same set of rules.”

To that end, the President touted community colleges as key players in putting America back to work. In his address, Obama stated that community colleges were at the forefront of worker training programs across the country and called for many of these schools to ramp up their partnerships with area

While community college has traditionally been a budget-friendly place to pursue higher education, some high school students have discovered they can take that benefit a step further by taking college courses while they are still in high school. This program, referred to as dual enrollment, is especially advantageous because high school students do not have to pay tuition for classes taken during the high school years. However, community colleges in Florida have found that the popularity of dual-enrollment programs is creating a financial dilemma for the very schools that originally used the programs to encourage high-achieving high school students to pursue higher education.

The Benefits of Dual Enrollment

Two recent studies from the National Center for Postsecondary Research show that dual enrollment has some positive effects on college enrollment and completion. According to a report at the Council for the Study of Community Colleges website, one study found that students who took dual enrollment classes were12 percent more likely to go to college and seven percent more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree than those who did not participate in dual enrollment courses. However, the positive effects were restricted to students who took classes on the college campus, instead of in their own high school classrooms.

The second study found that students who passed a college algebra placement test and participated in a dual-enrollment college algebra class were 16 percent more likely to go to college and 23 percent more likely to earn a

Community colleges have traditionally been a means for the budget-conscious to pursue a higher education and a well-paying job after graduation. However, if the student does not finish his degree or certificate program, he gains little more than excessive debt - and no credentials to get the job he needs to pay off his school loans. In Illinois, the number of community college students in this position is alarmingly high – so much so that the state's lieutenant governor, Sheila Simon, wants to write new legislation to improve community college graduation rates over the next decade significantly.

Focus on the Finish

The new report released by Simon’s office, titled “Focus on the Finish,” provides statistics on current graduation rates at Illinois community colleges and recommendations to improve those numbers. Nearly one million students enroll in Illinois community colleges every year. According to Lt. Governor Simon’s website, the report shows that four out of five recent high school graduates in Illinois who attend community college do not earn their degree or certificate within three years.

“We’re doing a good job of getting all types of students into the doors of community colleges,” Simon stated on her website. “But now we need to do a better job of moving them across the stage at graduation with a certificate or degree that leads to a good-paying job here in Illinois.”

Simon explains that there are currently 142,000 jobs available in the state, yet thousands of

India represents a huge population that boasts an exceptionally high percentage of youth under 14. To use that percentage to launch India into world leadership rankings, education has become a priority for the entire country. The Wadhwani Foundation, an Indian non-profit committed to improving the quality of life in this country, recently partnered with an American community college to bring skill-based training to the youth of India. The partnership promises to provide resources to the country's youth who want to break the cycle of poverty through post-secondary education and lucrative career options.

The New Agreement

According to a local article in the Washington Post, the agreement between the Virginia Foundations for Community College Education and the India-based Wadhwani Foundation will enable American colleges to promote skills-based training overseas. Community colleges in this country specialize in such post-secondary education, preparing students of all ages for specific career paths. However, Indian schools were not equipped to provide their growing middle class with the same benefits skills-based training offers until the Wadhwani Foundation made education a priority in improving the standard of living in that country.

U.S. Senator Mark Warner announced the agreement. The Democrat is a member of the five-person delegation planning a visit to various cities in India, including New Delhi, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The purpose of the visit is to discuss expanding relationships between the United States and India through business, defense, trade, and cultural issues.

“Virginia’s two-year community colleges play a