Dallas County Community College: Overview Essay

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American Community College is a form of educational institution, which emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century in the age of industrialization and urbanization. Initially, junior colleges served only as a supplement to high school and offered a very limited range of training courses, but due to the support of governmental and public organizations, they gradually became more sophisticated and advanced in terms of their curriculum and infrastructure (Cohen & Brawer, 2004). In the Dallas district, there are several Community Colleges that provide good academic basis for students, for example, we can single out Brookhaven or Cedar Valley College. This paper focuses on the North Lake College, in particular, its historical background, curriculum, long-term objectives, and activities of the students. Moreover, we need to discuss those characteristic features which distinguish the North Lake from other educational establishments related to Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD).

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North Lake College is rich in its history, and is considered to be one of the best in the district. First, it is necessary to discuss this educational agency as a component of Dallas Community Colleges. Since 1915 Dallas County has been famous for Southern Methodist University with its high admission standards and major stresses on the religious education through the Christian outlook of that time. During that period local government tried to satisfy the growing demand of manufactures for skill workers. Additionally, they attempted to raise overall educational and cultural level of the citizens. Dallas Community College District came into existence in the late sixties and since that time, it has grown into a very sophisticated union of various educational institutions (Cohen & Brawer, 2004). North Lake College is a constituent part of DCCCD infrastructure but it has its own peculiar features. Although members of this union are closely intertwined with one another, each college takes all possible efforts to prove its excellence. Active collaboration, mutual help and competitiveness are compulsory conditions for permanent development.

North Lake College is one of the seven institutions belonging to DCCCD. It was opened in the fall of 1977; the central campus is located in Irving’s Las Colinas area. Apart from that, the college has three branches namely: North, West, South campuses. The versatile complex of activities which this institution proposes for its students goes around two main directions in studies: Arts, and Applied Sciences. In this respect, it should be pointed out that there are several future goals of the college which involve more advanced accreditation and more diverse curriculum. This innovation will require extra investment, but this college can be of great interest to investors. The administration of NLC sets a very ambitious task: to establish an impeccable reputation for this college. NLC has a potential to reach this goal. It has a much elaborated infrastructure, and this makes students activities many-faceted and interesting. This statement goes for academic studies and leisure time. NLC is closely associated with colleges of higher education so that student can continue their academic careers. The thing is that nowadays, junior colleges are frequently treated as inferior (Cohen and Brawer, 2004). More than that, they do not enjoy considerable demand among American people.

North Lake College is an example that disproves this deep-rooted stereotype; it shows that junior colleges are capable of producing high-level professionals who meet the highest standards.

Another goal of NLC is to maintain and promote in every possible way close relationships with other colleges of the district. What is more, it is one of the most active educational organizations in Dallas, especially if we are speaking about the provision of cultural, educational, sport and exchange programs. NLC has the capacity to do it as its infrastructure comprises many facilities such as an enormous Performance Hall, natatorium appropriate for swimming completions at the highest level and Workforce Development Center that helps students and graduates to find their niche in the society. For a very long time, the graduates of junior colleges have been regarded by the society as unskilled workers who can do only menial jobs, but in recent years the situation has changed, as more students who have graduated from junior colleges are able to strengthen their position in the society, and achieve success in the workplace (Cohen and Brawer, 2004). NCL strives to open new prospects for the learners so that they can enter universities and rise in the workplace hierarchy.

This college is attended for the revision and accreditation by such agencies as ASPA and CHEA. The administration provides additional courses for further employment of students so they could have direct opportunities for career growth or pursuit for higher education. The curriculum offered by North Lack College is based on thorough analysis of workplace requirements the teaching staff prepares learners for the demands of the employers. This policy is aimed at facilitating students further progress.

The development of leadership qualities in the students is one of the most important goals that NLC aims to reach. The college has established several programs, which nurture such personal traits as initiative, ability to think critically and creative decision-making. NLC has at its disposal Student Leadership Institute (SLI), which is supposed to rise and develop new leaders in the college community. People, who work in this institute, believe that the role, functions, and image of a leader constantly evolves with time passing and that every person has these qualities, yet it is necessary to find and elaborate them. SLI closely cooperates with another college structure Student Life Center, where learners are engaged in different cultural, sport and other activities. Moreover, they have a good chance to meet musicians, writers, or celebrities who can share their experience and provide helpful tips to the younger generation. As a result, students feel that they are an inseparable part of the society and they will have a chance to become even more efficient in the future. In part, this is the reason why the enrollment to this college gradually increases. Naturally, school graduates are more willing to enter universities, especially if they have financial resources. Yet, North Lake College gives a very good price-quality ratio. For many people, this is the best alternative.

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We should also mention the Student Government Association (SGA) which shapes the policies of NLC and ensures that each leaner could participate in the life of NCL and make his contribution to the prosperity of this institution. This structural part of NLC helps students to have social well-being and makes sure that their voices are heard and that their needs and demands are taken into account. Everyone in college can become a member of SGA. Of course, this organization maintains and promotes close cooperation with the administration, but its primary objective is to achieve current and future goals of students and uphold their interests. The dean is the main decision-maker, the person who is responsible for the provision of curriculum schedule and other policies aimed at creating the most suitable conditions for educating students, while the president of SGA is the person who exercises independent control over the quality of education and helps to address the difficulties of college life. The importance of such cooperation should not be underestimated because SGA helps the administration to avoid possible mistakes. Cohen and Brawer argue that without such associations as SGA students will never have a chance to acquire leadership skills, they will not be able to defend their views and beliefs (2004). In North Lake College, this organization is extremely influential and this indicates that this educational organization will become even more popular not only in its own district but throughout the country. A strong students association contributes to continuous improvement.

While looking at NLC as one of the major Community Colleges of Dallas area one cannot notice that despite increasing competition this institution has enrolment increase every single year. In most cases, students decide to attend this college due to several reasons, one of which is its proximity to the areas where students live. Another reason for the popularity of NLC is a wealthy and varied infrastructure of NLC not to make the process of learning even more interesting and engaging. Apart from that, some people are attracted by the payments for education and a flexible system of debts payback. Moreover, the administration makes everything within its power in order to ensure that multicultural and multinational approach is encouraged and supported in NLC. The students of this college are of various cultural, ethnic, and racial origins. Diversity and tolerance have always been topmost priorities in North Lake College.

Along with what has been stated above, we need to mention that NLC closely follows the universal principles of education provision, so that to diminish all negative factors, which obstruct the well-being of students in college. The total computerization of classes makes this institution one of the leaders in best use of curriculum materials and informational resources essential for effective and continuous learning. The administration of North Lake College insists that students should have good opportunities for self-education, for example, online courses are available every day, and every person can find the most flexible schedule and this is very helpful because time format is not an obstacle anymore for convenient studying and private life. It stands to reason that NLC still has a lot of difficulties to overcome: as any junior college is strongly dependent on the support of governmental agencies and public organizations. But with the help of prudent policies, this institution can prove itself superior to other colleges of Dallas County Community and transform into a college of higher education.

All in all, North Lake Community College is the place where each person has a good opportunity to obtain highly qualified education services that lay foundations for personal and professional growth. A great background and material base of NLC make it unique among others colleges related to DCCCD. The cooperation of the staff administration and student councils is conducive to continuous improvement of learning conditions. Leadership, responsibility, eagerness are those ideals which students of NLC can achieve.

References

Cohen. A. Brawer. F(2004). The American Community College. San Francisco. John Wiley and Sons.

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