Introduction
The increase in demand for quality higher education in the American education system resulted to the establishment of community colleges a distinct phenomenon in the 20th century. This varied from six months diploma courses, two-year vocational training and workforce certificate training to pre-university associate academic learning with the need to deliver higher education to the varied population groups.
Community colleges recorded large population turn out of clients who needed education but had little academic preparation; because of their affordability compared to the other four-year institutions for parents and students. In terms of funding the community college, receive boosts from the government revenue, local tax and only 20% from the fees and tuition payments made by students.
Since the formation of community colleges hundreds of years ago, there has been a tremendous growth in their increase due to the competition created by the introduction of the two- year learning institutions. Masses of students enroll in these colleges for education in different fields such as mathematics for university level, English language, and the retraining required in quality work force.
Presently, majority of America’s students enroll in community colleges in preparation for pursued interests in higher institutions of learning (Welch, 1990). This paper aims to analyze the development of community college in demand for higher education and its contribution to the development of American higher education.
Community colleges education system
Since the community college, education existed as the less expensive option many students enrolled resulting to the massive population of students recorded over the years.
The colleges have varying profiles in faculty options with the highest intake recorded in adjunct and part-time courses. The trend in these colleges is their service in the form of entry point preparing students for further higher learning and; providing the students from low income-earning families with a chance of accessing education after their secondary school completion.
The colleges also give students opportunities to qualify for the four year institutions with a majority of them venturing into careers after completion of college instead of going for university education. Basing on this education trend, community colleges play an enormous role in developing the higher education system (Banta, 1993).
Community colleges mission lies in their commitment to provide students with easy access to education. Despite targeting to satisfy the need of a wider population, the community colleges also aim to provide the best pre-university training, workforce training and academic learning in readiness for personal growth and fulfillment in future careers. This policy has ensured the success and expansion of most colleges as students’ enrolment continues to rise.
Discussion
In reference to the case study, community colleges compared to the four-year institutions in the past but had more advantages; with their open-door policy, they made enrolment easier for students with weak academic backgrounds. They also opened their doors to all social classes regardless of their income bracket and exposed the students to quality education; and curriculum schedules that fitted their needs.
Therefore, community college would be the best choice to start with from high school because it gives the student the chance to diversify on his or her education goals; which he might use in advancing to a degree program later in a higher institution of learning.
This college education has also changed with time; whereby now most colleges employ the use of computers and skilled information technology courses that a majority of organizations need in the current world. Hence, the education acquired at this early stage in college may go into preparing an individual interested in working first before advancing his career in higher education later in life. The subject in this case would benefit a lot for the feeder system- oriented education given by the community college.
The adjunct faculties and remedial courses offered prepare a student ultimately interested in joining a university to have a better higher a chance and skills to compete in the competitive institutions.
According to studies conducted in the past 29% of students from community colleges most of them have successfully made it to university, while 17% has attained degrees for the associate programs they started with at community colleges. Therefore, this goes to show that community college education is still a success, not just in higher education development but also in student self-fulfillment intellectually (Brawer, 2009).
Role of community colleges in higher education
Community colleges hold an extremely valuable position in merging the secondary and postsecondary education because through their establishment, emerged the formulated standards that prepared the people who had little education to survive and succeed in the complex college program; hence developing higher education. These colleges having been established to serve the public they became the best two-year institution for training, service functions and academic-based educative learning.
First, these colleges at the community level play a crucial role in remediation of students to higher learning. Regarding the increased number of unskilled students, enrolling in community colleges, need to remediate them through basic courses in writing and reading skills fostered the introduction of the remedial courses to this effect.
This contribution to higher education served as a link between the old education systems and the higher education; therefore, producing students with refined skills to join new career bodies or pursue higher education in advanced four-year institutions.
English being one of the basic teaching languages in community colleges, it fostered formal education and reduced the language barrier challenge that educators in higher learning faced, therefore, making community college education the best pillar for developments advancements in higher education.
On the other hand, community colleges gained advocating due to their active response to the societal needs and accessible opportunities to the states and localities where they existed. The quality attention given to students in colleges has improved the level of redundancy in higher education hence improved learning; through increased opportunities of skilled students entering universities and those joining the local career environment to nurture their training skills.
Another role community colleges play in higher education development is the provision of education in equal measures for all; through the open access to education in its institution and development of learning by introducing the simplified strategies and remedial courses for individual suitability (Baker, Dudziak & Tyler, 1994).
This aspect of community colleges does not just offer a satisfaction and an entry point; but also enhances the promise for democracy in America’s higher education to improve careers and the educational system, as well. Additionally the open-door policy in community colleges has fulfilled the promise of education to many; by serving all races, ethnic tribes, and social classes.
This educational awareness has resulted to increase in women’s enrolment to higher education hence improving the gender balance equation in higher education; both sexes get equal chances at competing for better careers.
The easy access to education in community colleges increased demand for learning; hence fostered the expansion of programs offered in higher education leading to new and advanced developments in higher education especially America. Examples of these developments included the post graduated and doctorates programs that got introduced after degree programs to further advancements into the field of education and careers.
Additionally, community colleges improved the quality of America’s higher education through the role of service learning. They incorporated the involvement of community service to the learning and teaching strategies used in aim of fostering the students growth, responsibility, educative learning and later their entry opportunity into four-year institutions of higher learning.
Conclusion
The notable contributions of community colleges to higher education in America relate to their mission to change the education system and improve the lives’ of people; and adaptability to this system of learning.
This system represents the link between the society and education at the grass root level, which aimed at promoting free and general adult and community education; workforce and developmental training; remedial and pre-university education; relocation and continuity education and development education for students.
References
Baker, G. A., Dudziak, J., & Tyler, P. (1994). A Handbook on the community college In America: its history, mission, and management. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
Banta, T. (1993). Making a difference: outcomes of a decade of assessment in higher education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Brawer, F. B. (2009). The American Community College. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.
Welch, L. B. (1990). Women in higher education: changes and challenges. New York: Praeger.