Community College Analysis The continuation of education into adulthood is important to individual development, as well as the future of our

country. In a country of diverse people with different ideals, values, and economic situations, adults have the option of attending a community college. Chapter 21 of the Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education (2010 e!plains the opportunities and "enefits offered "y community colleges. #e are essentially given an in depth loo$ at these institutions, including the primary reasons they e!ist. #ith the continued need for s$illed wor$ers and %o" opportunities in the &nited 'tates of America, community colleges are necessary now, more than they ever were. An article on community colleges, as these institutions relate to the economy and s$illed wor$ers, will also "e e!amined in showcasing the importance of these schools. In this essay, I will "e comparing and contrasting the information on community colleges from "oth the Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education, and the US News article e!amining community colleges. After reading chapter 21, titled The Learning Landscape of Community Colleges (2010 , I feel that I am "etter informed a"out education provided "y community colleges. Although, the information provided is only one loo$ at these institutions, as the US News article (2010 gives us a wealth of information in regards to a good plan for community colleges as it relates to now and the future. There are "oth advantages and disadvantages of community colleges, and "ased on the chapter 21 (2010 information, the advantages are far greater than the disadvantages. The te!t (2010 e!plains to us that a community college may "e viewed as a (college of the people,) providing everyone who attends with

more education (p. 2*1 . +ne goal is to educate many individuals with higher education, allowing the country to have additional s$illed wor$ers. At a community college, a place of convenience to those see$ing education, one may pursue a variety of programs. These include associate,s degrees, training programs such as -nglish as a second language, and the a"ility to "egin a "achelors degree that may "e completed "y transferring to a university. A community college see$s to offer students the promise of e!cellence and student success with accessi"le programs. #ithout community colleges, less adults would have an opportunity for education (p. 2*1 . It is clear to me, "ased on chapter 21 (2010 , that a community may potentially flourish with availa"le educational opportunities from a community college. #ith the addition of a community college, there are greater opportunities, thus reaching more adult learners. They are essential institutions that allow us to have more s$illed wor$ers and a stronger economy. It is also a place of great diversity and e.ual opportunity, as it does not matter what age the learner is or his or her ethnicity. /arious learning methods are also used to teach everyone, so no one is left "ehind academically. The goal is to "enefit everyone who see$s higher education (p. 2*1 . The need for higher education is due to economic and social factors in the country. 0art of the advantage for various individuals is in the form of more afforda"le options for classes, as well as open admissions to the college. The chapter (2010 states that *12 of the postsecondary students attend these colleges. In addition to convenient locations, such as a campus centrally located to most individuals, there is more convenience as some community colleges offer students the a"ility to attend off3site, smaller locations. In our age of technology, students may also attend a community college online. Therefore, there

are many options for students, so no one is at a disadvantage for finding a way to attend (pp. 2*1 . The learning landscape of community colleges is descri"ed in the te!t (2010 as one that provides additional opportunities for those who are postsecondary learners, opportunities for the unemployed, and helping those dissatisfied with a career to develop new s$ills for wor$. Another "enefit is for those who would li$e to o"tain new $nowledge, not necessarily for a career. Achievement is promoted in community colleges. A statistic states that half of all community college students are in their twenties, therefore the adult learners may "e retuning to school for higher education, or perhaps they "egin community college in their late teens (pp. 2*132*2 . As for the time spent at the community college, some students spend more time o"taining a traditional two3year degree, and others may pursue a program that ta$es less than two years. 4et another opportunity the community college offers is the a"ility for some students to learn remedial s$ills that may have "een forgotten from high school (pp. 2*132*2 . The community college may create the community in the classroom. 0roviding students with opportunities in "uilding a foundation for what to e!pect later in college, and discipline in studying. 0art of the mission of the community college is to provide education for transferring to a university, educating individuals for a career, developing "asic s$ills and preparing for the future of college, "usiness training, and allowing an individual to have the $nowledge to potentially enrich their community. 'tudents see$ing adult education may "e advised to have good s$ills in coordination and managing time. As many individuals will "e learning from various "ac$grounds, they must also "e prepared to learn, and learn all they can a"out the program they are enrolled in.

5overning a community college may "e a shared responsi"ility. Academic and non3 academic .ualities may "e necessary in "uilding a community in the classroom (pp. 2**3 2*1 . 6or another point of view on community colleges, the US News article (2010 tells us of the 0resident,s views on community colleges in regards to the future, and the article provides some criticism of the community college in its current state. +"ama praises community colleges, claming that they are essential in leading wor$ers into "etter employment, with essentials concerning the education of adults. The community colleges are great institutions for learning, allowing adults to e!pand their education and learn new s$ills so they may "e employed in a new or satisfying %o". The 21st century wor$force, as it is descri"ed, would "e educated through the use of higher education in a community college, leading to a wealth of s$illed wor$ers. The wife of the /ice 0resident was a part of a summit to meet with policy leaders, students, and other individuals of influence, to spea$ a"out the great "enefits community college offers our country (&'7ews.com . 8ill 9iden stated that she "elieves the community colleges of America are an essential part of stimulating the economy (&'7ews.com . 'he continued her praise, "elieving that lives may "e changed for the "etter "y attending one of these institutes. 9etter %o"s await those who return to school or see$ higher education after high school, due to adding value to one,s educational "ac$ground. +ne may have an attractive resume for a %o", however, "y o"taining a degree from a community college or perusing a program for %o" s$ills, one will have a "etter opportunity. The entirety of the article is not completely positive though, as critics mention pro"lems including a lac$ of students see$ing further education at a four3year school, accusations of community colleges using unscrupulous practices in

recruitment, and graduation rates that are less than favora"le (&'7ews.com . In the article and the chapter in the te!t"oo$ (2010 , I find "oth similarities and differences in how community colleges are portrayed, including the "enefits. The chapter (2010 tells us that community colleges have the goal of providing the $nowledge for s$illed wor$ers, a statement that is similar to the &' 7ews article claming that the wor$force of the 21st century is reliant on these institutions (p. 2*1 . The economy will potentially improve with the addition of new wor$ers who o"tained their $nowledge from a community college, due to the convince and easy access to these colleges, a sentiment held "y the authors of the 21st chapter (2010 in the te!t and a statement in the news article (2010 . #e are told in the article that half of college graduates had attended a community college, whereas we are told that fifty percent of community college students are in their mid twenties or older (pp. 2*132*1 . 0erhaps this information may complement the article (2010 , and the opposite may "e said. In the article on USNews, 8ill 9iden is mentioned and that she told of changed lives for the "etter due to community colleges. This is compara"le to the statement in the te!t"oo$ (2010 that human change is driven "y learning and independence, as well as success, may "e gained from attending a community college (pp. 2*:32*; . As a downside to a community college, the article (2010 mentions that many students may ta$e longer than two years to receive an associate,s degree, although it may not "e mush of a downside, as the te!t"oo$ (2010 has similar sentiments in that some students do ta$e longer. Therefore, the article and the te!t"oo$ are in agreement on this issue, although it would seem that the te!t does not feel it is much of an issue (pp. 2*132*< . 'ome critics, as mentioned in the USNews article (2010 , state that less than ade.uate

success rates are found in community collegeges, however this is a contrast to the 21st chapter of the te!t (2010 , as the community college is spo$en of with great regard. Any negative traits of a community college are not at the forefront, as there are many advantages that ma$e this education worthwhile. The article (2010 also tells us that perhaps new infastrucre in community colleges is essential for success (&'7ews.com . In contrast to this, chapter 21 (2010 details that it is a shared responsi"ility in governing the school. #e are told that if a community college receives accrediation that .uality may "e assured (pp. 2*132*1 . +verall, it is the opinion of "oth authors (2010 that community colleges offer a great advantage to those of all ages, and the "enefits outweigh the disadvantages. Community colleges offer many opputunites for those see$ing new s$ills and employment "y presenting classes and programs to those attending (pp.2*132*< . =ost importantly, the current and ne!t gerneation of wor$ers will "enefit from attending community colleges, o"taining %o"s that would not "e accessi"le without higher education. In addition to education, community colleges are great choice for many individuals, due to their convenient locations, open admissions, and the a"ility to learn leadership .ualities in a community setting (pp. 2*132*< . The negative asspects, such as some students ta$ing more time to complete a two year program or low graduateion rates in some sitations, may "e overloo$ed due to the "enefits community colleges offer students and our economy (pp. 2*132*< . The 21st chapter (2010 of the te!t"oo$ offers a satisfactory introduction to those who wish to learn a"out the institusions $nown as community colleges.

>eferences

0fahl, 7ancy ?.@ =cClenney, Aay =.@ +,9anion, Terry@ 'ullivan, ?eila 5.@ #ilson, Cynthia B (2010 . The Learning Landscape of Community Colleges. Aasworm, Carol

-.@ >ose, Amy B@ >oss35ordon, 8ovita =. (-d. Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education (00. 2*132C1 . &nited 'tates of AmericaD 'A5- 0u"lications. =iners, Each (2010 . bama Touts Community Colleges! "enefits# &'7ews.com, +cto"er 2010 FhttpDGGwww.usnews.comGnewsGarticlesG2010G10G0;Go"ama3touts3community3colleges3 "enefitsH