Should You Declare Academic Bankruptcy?

In this weak economy, California's community colleges face deja vu fears that surfaced nearly a decade ago in the state. After a proposed budget cut of $215 million dollars for nearly 108 California community colleges in 2001, critics of former Governor Gray Davis argued that his proposed funding cuts would negatively impact thousands of college students. Sadly, although Davis has been replaced by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, it seems as though California community college students and leaders are facing an all too familiar fear.

California has made national headlines with its many economic struggles and set-backs, and now the state faces grave concerns expressed by community college students. According to recent reports from the California Legislative Committee, new budget cuts proposed by Arnold Schwarzenegger could prevent thousands of potential students from affording community college for the upcoming fall semester. As Schwarzenegger has planned to gradually phase out the Cal Grant aid, which provides support for lower-income college students, some experts fear that nearly 200,000 students' collegiate plans may be deterred. According to the Los Angeles Times, Cal Grant support is the state's main financial aid offered for college students; with this decrease in aid, community college students are worried about their uncertain academic futures.

This video from 2021 looks at potential budget cuts at California community colleges.

California and the Importance of the Cal Grant Support

Created in 2000, the Cal

Accessing Free Healthcare: How Community Colleges Are Bridging the Medical Gap

Did you know that your local community college medical clinic may be an excellent source of free health care? USA Today reports that community area clinics helped nearly seven million uninsured patients in 2008! Considering that almost 21 percent of the nation’s citizens are currently struggling to pay medical and prescription drug bills, community college clinics are playing a large role in helping to fill the financial void.

How Can Community Colleges Provide Free Services?

Free healthcare services at your local community college may seem too good. After all, how can community colleges afford to provide free medical treatment? The answer lies in innovation. Through creative programs, community colleges leverage student support to create opportunities for free healthcare.

For example, students enrolled in dental programs, healthcare classes, and other medical fields are often required to participate in hands-on field practice. Community college clinics provide students in the medical field with realistic training experiences, which translate into mutually beneficial situations for both the students and the community.

In these clinics, students often hold the responsibility of providing examination and health services to any incoming patients. These students, of course, are highly qualified in their area of study, and they are also required to be supervised by a certified and licensed professional. This translates into solid medical care for the community.

This video offers an overview of Norco Community College's health services.

If you love working with creatures furry, scaly, and sometimes prickly, then community college can be an excellent starting point for your animal service career. In fact, according to College Grad, students interested in animal service have a wide variety of career options, including animal training, veterinary assistance, zoological services, kennel attending, breeding assistance, grooming services, and much more.

If animals are in your professional future, learn more about unique community college classes that can help prepare you for your career in animal services!

Animal Care Career Pathways

Animal Care and Management Technology

For students interested in learning the necessary skills and experiences to work in the animal care industry, Durham Technical Community College (DTCC), located in Durham, North Carolina, provides diverse courses and opportunities for hands-on practice.

As DTCC explains, courses in the Animal Care and Management Technology program teach students about the basic sciences of animal work, while instructors also educate students on the legal and management skills that are essential for both animal and human interactions. Adding to this, “This course of study offers the student a wide variety of employment options. Opportunities exist with humane organizations, kennels, city and county animal control agencies, animal shelters, zoos, residency facilities, and veterinarians.”

In addition, to help students who are juggling challenging schedules, DTCC also offers cooperating courses at the nearby Alamance Community College Campus. With this option, students can enroll in select weekend courses at Alamance while also continuing

According to Autism Speaks, a national society devoted to serving the autistic population and family members, 1 out of every 150 children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is a learning disability that typically involves a child’s struggle to socially, emotionally, and personally interact with others. Autistic children tend to show an unawareness of others’ feelings, facial recognition, and social cues.

Despite these struggles, however, ASD students are commonly intellectually exceptional. Autism Spectrum Disorder is described as a “spectrum” because the symptoms of each child can vary significantly. Those with strong signs of Autism are generally labeled as having “Classic Autism,” while individuals with fewer signs of autism may be labeled as having “Asperger’s Syndrome.”

The National Autism Association defines autism as follows:

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by:

• social impairments
• cognitive impairments
• communication difficulties
• repetitive behaviors

According to Autism Speaks, “Compared with classic autism, children with Asperger's Syndrome usually don't show any signs of major cognitive difficulties — their IQ falls in the normal or even superior range.” Similarly, children who are diagnosed with Classic Autism may have more noticeable signs but are often able to exceed their peers’ standard intellectual and cognitive abilities.

High school students or adults who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder can be confident that community colleges across the country have various programs for individualized support. As Autism is, by far, the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the United States, community college leaders are ardently seeking