Health Degrees: A Popular Choice At Community College

College is an important step for nearly any young adult who wants to embark on a rewarding and lucrative profession after graduation. Unfortunately, many of these students drop out of high school before they even earn their diploma, leaving them with few options in employment that can support a family or allow for career advancement. To help some of these students rediscover their academic roots, Gateway to College was created. This innovative program provides the information, resources, and the support high school dropouts need to get back on track and earn their diplomas and their degrees.

What is Gateway to College?

The Gateway to College program began at Portland Community College in 2000 as a means to help high school dropouts bridge the gap in their educational careers. According to the Gateway to College website, the program helps students earn their high school diplomas and community college credits simultaneously, setting them on a path to completing not only high school, but college as well. Since its humble beginnings more than a decade ago, Gateway to College has grown to a nationwide network that includes 30 colleges in 16 states and more than 100 school districts across the country.

The Gateway program operates as an organization within a community college campus, teaching students how to succeed in an academic setting where they may have fallen short before. The instructors and specialists that work with Gateway specialize in helping youth who have dropped out of

New construction may be at a standstill for the housing market throughout the West Coast, but that slowdown hasn’t impacted construction enhancements at many community colleges around California. From new student centers to “green” classrooms, the projects at higher education institutions are currently making up a large percentage of the total construction occurring around the state. And since colleges had already earmarked portions of their budget for the enhancements, many schools are saving money, thanks to the lower cost of supplies and property over the past few years. We’ll look at how some California community colleges are gearing up for bigger, better campuses in the not-so-distant future.

50 Projects, $1.6 Billion

According to a recent report at Sign on San Diego, more than 50 construction projects are underway at community colleges and universities across California. The total projected cost for the combined effort is around $1.6 billion, a massive boon to a slumping construction industry where only a few housing projects are still up and running. In addition to the current projects, much more is waiting to begin, ensuring the state's construction industry will continue to find work and revenue for some years.

Boone Hellmann, University of California, San Diego vice chancellor for facilities, design, and construction, told Sign on San Diego, “I think it’s extraordinarily fortunate to have an influx of work in both the community college and university sectors. Over the past two years, I’ve had contractors tell me we’ve been a stalwart

Community colleges have historically offered a wide range of degree programs to help individuals get the training they need to move quickly into the career of their choice. To keep up with the recent surge in community college enrollment that has occurred during the current economic slowdown, many community colleges are ramping up all new degree programs to broaden their offerings even further. Some of the new programs are provided in partnership with local four-year universities, while others are geared toward up and coming industries where employment opportunities show great promise. We’ll take a look at a few of the colleges across the nation that are working to give students an eclectic selection of degree programs.

Ivy Tech Expanding Programs

Ivy Tech is one of the colleges planning to offer a wider choice in degree programs for the next academic year. According to a report in the Indiana Economic Digest, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education recently approved new certificate and degree programs for a number of the Ivy Tech campuses in the state. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning degree program will be expanding to include certification, as well as an associate’s degree. The associate degree program in dental hygiene will also enlarge to incorporate a technical certificate in dental assisting.

Ivy Tech will also be adding an associate of science program for those interested in entering the field of engineering. The pre-engineering degree will prepare students for entry-level work in their

The economic downturn has made its presence felt throughout the country, as families and businesses are forced to tighten their belts and make difficult decisions about their spending habits. Community colleges are facing the same challenges, as severe budget cuts have forced many schools to make choices in staffing, degree programs, and enrollment.

As the deadlines for finalizing next year’s budgets are looming for many schools, we’ll take a look at what some of the community colleges across the nations are forced to do to make ends meet.

This video reports on a pending tuition increase in a local community college.

Cayuga Community College Hiking Tuition Rates

The Cayuga Community College Board of Trustees recently approved their latest budget for the upcoming academic year. According to a report at AuburnPub.com, the new budget will include a hefty tuition hike, as well as a request for additional funding from Cayuga County. The tuition increase will be a significant 7.25 percent jump after tuition was not raised at all during the previous academic year. This amount translates to a $260 increase, with full-time students now paying $3,820 per year and part-time students paying $150 per credit hour. College officials are predicting that the federal Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) will cover the increase for about 75 percent of the students that are currently receiving TAP.

Not everyone was in favor of