The Benefits of Community College Clubs

As a whole, the community college system is a major training ground for the nation's workforce and serves as a career-development incubator for today's jobs and future industries. The Green California Community College Summit, taking place October 8 – 9, 2008 at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California, will address the issues of building green campuses, creating a green curriculum based on technology that is being developed at lightning speed to meet the needs of tomorrow’s green economy.

We are participating in the Summit to share our experience and learn from other community college districts and experts in the fields of green building, curriculum, and technology. As we march into a more sustainable and technology-based culture, the community college system needs to continue to develop innovative teaching methods, academic programs, courses, and content that address the needs of 21st-century students - especially as it relates to green technology. Alternative energy solutions and renewable technology are in high demand and the need for green innovation is having a tremendous impact on how community colleges formulate policies, initiatives, and programs to stay ahead of the curve.

This TEDTalk discusses sustainable schools.

A significant number of all U.S. undergraduates pass-through community colleges seeking training and education in a variety of fields. With emerging green technology and the industries that support it rising steadily, training workers who understand these new standards and are skilled in applying

While community colleges are known to provide opportunities for young and adult learners, new programs are gearing courses and venues to focus more strongly on senior and retired community members. Paired with this, many community colleges offer substantial education discounts. For example, Terra Community College in Fremont, Ohio, offers individuals 60 and older free tuition. Here, older students are able to participate in courses under non-credit agreements, and they are only responsible for the costs of lab fees, books, and any other course supplies.

Are Community College Programs the Right Fit for Older Students?

While beginning any new course of study, regardless of age, can be nerve-wracking, studies show that more retired community members are taking courses. According to a Washington State Community College interview, a student asserted that seeing people aged 40 to 60 or older in various courses is not unusual. On average, this interviewed student claims to have at least one to three older students in her classes.

As Janienne Jennrich further supports in her article “Senior Citizens Going to College, “quite often, older students are rather popular. It all depends on personality and willingness to join discussions and events.” As most staff members and instructors are also often older, mature students bring different experiences and potential to a college course. With this, seniors are not only welcome to take community college courses but are also strongly encouraged, as many seniors’ intelligence and skills help assist the younger students, creating a

As the costs of all school programs are rising, community colleges are offering more affordable education plans that prepare young professionals for some of the top paying careers. As CNN comments on the top paying jobs, “though a college degree is not a requirement for these positions, all require moderate to extensive on-the-job training or apprenticeship. In addition, dental hygienists, radiation therapists, nuclear medicine technologists, and commercial pilots require an associate degree at a vocational or technical school.”

Ultimately, as some of the top-paying careers only require a two- year degree, certification, or select courses, community colleges are offering financially affordable and rewarding pathways for future success.

Moving Towards a New Career Frontier

The correspondence between higher education and higher income is now becoming history; according to CNN, “Though it was once conventional wisdom that you needed to have a four-year college degree to be successful, many employment experts believe that maxim has become myth. While a college education increases a worker's chances of earning more money, it's certainly not the only reliable path to well-paid and rewarding work.”

While most lucrative jobs require post-high school training, most of the top-paying careers do not require a four-year degree – and thus, community colleges really stand out against 4 year universities. In fact, “there are […] (approximately) 50 million jobs out there that don't require a bachelor's degree and pay upwards of $40,000 a year.”

According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, eight of

Whether you’re a student trying to balance the demands of community college classes, or if you are a professional or stay-at-home parent wanting to find out about how to better take care of yourself, community colleges across the country have developed popular programs for physical, emotional, and personal well being.

Nutrition, Health, and Cooking

As a hobby or even as a career path, students can enroll in a wide variety of food-based courses. Some of these classes may provide more insight into the science of the human body and nutrition, while other courses may focus on lessons for cooking, food preparation, and beyond.

For example, San Diego Community College in California offers a wide range of class options for career or continuing-education students, including classes such as “Professional Bakeshop Skills,” “Bread Making,” and “Catering.” Here, students will learn about pastry, basic culinary skills, and the science behind the art of baking. Also, students can take the “Eat For a Healthy Lifestyle” course, which encompasses the entire realm of healthiness from the physiological standpoint to menu planning.

Other courses offered at San Diego Community College focus on learning about the diversity of food, such as their “Ethnic/Regional Foods” class, which focuses on preparing a variety of ethnic and regional foods by learning about “ingredients, food preparation techniques, and traditions of differing cultures. The course includes recipe adaptation to achieve maximum nutrition.” And for more cooking classes, students can enroll in “Time Saving Cooking” or “Menu Planning/Menu Planning