Retraining adults for high-demand jobs and improving graduation rates are the priorities for Iowa community colleges. Half of enrollees earn a credential or transfer in three years. That’s better than most states, but Iowans think theycan do better.
Community colleges must adapt or die
March 26, 2013 by
If community colleges keep trying to be mini-universities, they’ll fail, argues a college chancellor. For-profit competitors are eating their lunch by giving students what they want.
College assesses mental health threats
March 8, 2013 by
At a Dallas community college, a team of volunteers assesses whether troubled students need counseling or psychiatric treatment. Most of those referred don’t turn out to be threats, but many could use some help.
Tests place most students in remedial rut
March 5, 2013 by
Most new community college students start in remedial classes — and most don’t get far. Placement tests put too many students in a remedial rut, say researchers, who want colleges to look at students’ high school grades.
High school test scores predict first-year community college performance, concludes a California study. But high-scoring Latinos and blacks are less likely to take college-level courses than low-scoring whites and Asians.
Retention’s up, enrollment’s down
February 27, 2013 by
Determined to raise retention rates, an Oregon community college mandated orientation and advising and eliminated late registration. That’s lowered enrollment by 20 percent, lowering state funding by 7 percent. However, graduation rates are likely to rise.
A “scorecard” for California community colleges will show progress and success rates for students who start in remedial classes, college-ready students, career-tech students and those in non-credit classes, such as English as a Second Language.
Community colleges try to polish image
February 21, 2013 by
Community colleges will earn respect when they take responsibility for student success — and failure, writes a higher education leader.
High schools may pay for college remediation
January 31, 2013 by
When high school graduates need remedial classes in college, who pays? Mississippi and Maine may hold school districts responsible for the costs of teaching basic skills in community colleges.
As many as 70 percent of entering community college students nationwide are placed in remedial courses.
Pregnancy vs. college graduation
January 9, 2013 by
Community colleges are encouraging students to prevent unplanned pregnancies to raise their odds of completing a degree.
Community colleges’ future is jobs, jobs, jobs
January 3, 2013 by
Once called “democracy’s college,” community colleges are becoming job training centers to supply workers for local employers, writes an English professor. Within the next 20 years, 80 percent of classes will be taught online, predicts Keith Kroll. Ninety percent of instructors will be part-timers who may never meet their students or each other.
Texans choose ‘brown jobs’ over college
December 31, 2012 by
Community college enrollment fell by 2 percent in Texas — and much more in areas with “brown jobs” in natural gas and oil, such as the Eagle Ford Shale region.
“It’s hard to keep a student in school to get their associate’s when they can go make $65,000 a year as a truck driver,” said Dominic Chavez, spokesman for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
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