Courses in College

Even though community colleges are seeing higher enrollment levels than ever before, not all these new students of higher education are getting the type of college experience they were hoping for. According to a new survey conducted by Pearson Foundation and Harris Interactive, many community college students feel unprepared for the rigors of college coursework. Students are also getting shut out of classes at many schools, leaving many waiting longer than two years to complete their degree and certification programs.

Harris Interactive conducted The recent survey online on behalf of Pearson Foundation in August and September 2011. The survey polled 1,205 community college students on various issues regarding school, including ease of getting necessary courses and the difficulty level of college-level coursework compared to high school classes. The survey results have been published on the websites of both Pearson Foundation and Harris Interactive. Several news sources have reported on the findings as well.

Preparation Lacking for Students Entering Community College

According to the Harris Interactive website, the survey found that more than half (52%) of all community college students felt unprepared for college-level coursework. Many felt their high schools did not adequately prepare them for higher education by placing a higher emphasis on basic skills, offering more courses, and making courses more challenging.

Amy Evans, a spokeswoman for Cisco College in Texas, told the Abilene Reporter-News that about one-third of the students who enroll at Cisco require some developmental education to prepare for the

The famous “all-nighter” has been a mainstay at colleges for generations, particularly during midterms and finals weeks, when students are cramming for exams. However, some community colleges across the country are now taking this popular college term to a whole new level. Instead of poring over books and lecture notes in the privacy of their bedrooms or dormitories, students are now hitting the road – and the books – to attend community college classes in the wee hours of the night. So who attends midnight classes and what is the point of offering them? While we reported on the midnight-class phenomenon in 2009, we’ll take a closer look at how this trend has grown even more in the last two years.

This video shows one person's experience with night classes.

Meeting Needs – and a Growing Demand – Head-On

Most community colleges across the country have seen enrollments grow by exponential numbers since the economy went south and more displaced workers began showing up on campus. The higher enrollment numbers have been difficult for some schools to accommodate, particularly in light of budget cuts that have also been a byproduct of a sluggish economy. The unfortunate result has been that many community colleges are forced to turn students away – an action these schools vehemently oppose. To help alleviate the problem, some schools are turning to unconventional approaches to

Aerospace is big business in the state of Washington, with more than 600 aerospace-related businesses currently residing there. To ensure a sufficient influx of quality, trained workers, new grants are coming to community and technical colleges in order to provide necessary training as quickly as possible. Funding will come from both state and federal sources, with millions of dollars coming to colleges across the state. The additional money will be a boon to the aerospace industry in Washington, as well as institutes of higher education supplying the training.

Federal Funding Distributed to Washington Technical College

The Obama Administration offers the first grant for aerospace training to Renton Technical College in Renton, Washington. According to a report in the Renton Reporter, the $2.1 million grant was a portion of the funds awarded to the Spokane Community College system through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grants program, or TAACCCT grants. These grants are part of the workforce development plan created by the White House to help displaced workers get the training they need to find new lines of work. Community Colleges of Spokane were given $20 million for this purpose, according to the U.S. Department of Education website.

This video offers a look at the aerospace program in the District of Columbia Community College.

The Air Washington Consortium

A portion of the Spokane funds was

Undoubtedly, success in college begins at the secondary level, with proper course selection, stellar academic performance, and career focus during the high school years. However, students that come from disadvantaged backgrounds or who have never had a family member attend college face nearly insurmountable obstacles when preparing for the possibility of postsecondary education. To give some of these students a chance at a college degree, the Talent Search Program was born.

What is the Talent Search Program?

According to the Ed.gov website, the Talent Search Program is designed to help disadvantaged youth with the potential to succeed in postsecondary education. This program identifies youth that falls into this category and provides them with the financial, career, and academic support they need to succeed in high school and beyond. Talent Search also looks for individuals who have not yet completed their secondary or postsecondary education and provides necessary resources to encourage those individuals to return to the world of academia to earn their high school equivalency and a postsecondary degree or certificate.

The programs offered through the Talent Search Program include:

• Aptitude assessments and counseling to prepare students for the rigors of college
• Mentoring and tutorial programs to come alongside students and help them succeed
• Counseling services to assist students with financial challenges that might arise
• Career exploration resources to help students plan for their futures
• Information about various postsecondary options available
• Alternative education options for those returning to finish their secondary education

These programs are geared toward helping

In an effort to turn more kids onto STEM learning, the Stevens Institute of Technology has brought a new summer program to community colleges across the country. WaterBotics allows middle and high school students to get their feet wet in the area of underwater technology while attracting demographics that might not otherwise consider an engineering career after graduation. This program has been gaining steam over the past few years, and this summer, several community colleges have hosted WaterBotics programs for students in their areas.

What is STEM?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – the key components some believe are key to this country’s future in the global marketplace. The Obama Administration has put out the challenge for schools across the country to bring more students into STEM studies to better prepare the future workforce for the challenges that lie ahead.

Dr. George Korfiatis, Stevens Provost and University Vice President, said in a press release on PR.com, “We are living in an age when knowing how to create new knowledge and what to do with it can create a healthier, safer, and more prosperous planet. Scientists, engineers, and technologists are providing the fuel to power the enterprises of this and future generations.”

This video explains STEM.

What is WaterBotics?

According to information on the Sinclair Community College website, WaterBotics is a program designed to educate students in science concepts