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| Constance Carroll (one-time Saddleback College President) |
Remedial academics? College prep? Vocational instruction? ‘Educational enrichment’?
The answer is “yes” — and that is the root of many problems plaguing the California Community Collegesystem, according to a new report by the Little Hoover Commission, the independent state watchdog.
California’s Community College system is the nation’s largest college system, with 112 campuses governed by72 districts and more than 2.6 million students. In Orange County, that includes Cypress, Fullerton, Orange Coast, Irvine Valley, Coastline, Santa Ana, Golden West, Santiago Canyon and Saddleback community colleges, with tens of thousands of students.
“(T)he community colleges have opened doors to people who want to improve the quality of their lives by earning more income, building skills to run a business, excelling in careers, being better parents, or taking another chance to realize their dreams and fulfill their potential,” the Little Hoover Commission said. “Yet, the Commission found that in trying to be all things to everyone, community colleges are coming up short for many.
“In this study, the Commission found that the state lacks a clear, uniform set of goals for its community college system and campuses. Too many students leave without accomplishing what they set out to achieve, whether learning new job skills or completing a certificate or degree program. Too many are unprepared for college-level work and do not receive adequate guidance to help them make up their educational deficits. At the same time, many students are hobbled in their progress by system policies that encourage campuses to increase enrollment at the expense of the services and supports that can help students move through the system and on with their lives. The result is that community colleges are rationing access, but not in a rational way, putting students on waiting lists who are prepared to succeed at college-level work. In making its recommendations, the Commission envisions a system that asks more of students, but asks more of colleges as well in supporting students and helping them move up and out of the system.”
While the colleges pride themselves on serving as “a critical entry point to higher education” — particularly for low-income and minority students who otherwise might not pursue college — studies have found that only 3.3 percent of students actually managed to earn a certificate, and and only 7.9 percent earned an associate’s degree. Nearly 23 percent transferred.
A big problem: Community colleges are open to, and must accept, all comers.
“Unlike the state’s four year universities, California Community Colleges operate as open institutions, by law admitting ‘any California resident who possesses a high school diploma’ or anyone 18 years of age or older ‘who is capable of profiting from the instruction offered.’”
But graduating from high school doesn’t mean students are ready for college work.
“As long as it is acceptable for students to pass the [California high school exit exam] with 10th grade English and 8th grade math skills, we will have problems,” San Diego Community College District Chancellor Constance Carroll told the Commission.
The Little Hoover Commission makes a long list of suggestions on how to fix things — from reforming enrollment, funding and governing systems to, essentially, deciding what community colleges want to be when they grow up….
2 comments:
Love that Constance Carroll! Remember when?
Constance was, and I suspect, still is a strong president( now a chancellor): she taught a number of us ways to administer programs, develop ideas, work together. She was KEENLY interested in students and faculty and in the college. Her training was in the classics: she was articulate and engaging. And she knew how to listen.
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