By: Shawn Cox
Submitted: 2010-11-11 16:22:02 | Word Count: 573
The idea of the community college comes with many different connotations, some of which are positive and some negative. Much of the negative attention that community colleges receive is due to the idea that community colleges are for students who do not perform well academically or could not handle the rigors of academic study at a larger college or university.
However, community colleges offer a wealth of resources beyond taking college-level classes. Many community colleges offer resources to primary and secondary school students, provide the community with access to libraries and public records, and partner with larger institutions to allow community college graduates to continue their studies in their chosen field.
Resources at Community Colleges
Community colleges offer a wealth of resources for students at all stages of learning, whether they are in kindergarten, pursuing a degree, or taking classes for the joy of learning.
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Community colleges often boast libraries with access to library lending networks, allowing local residents to gain access to materials that local public libraries may not have the funds or means to offer to the public. In addition, community colleges can engage preK-12 students by opening up facilities such as science labs to conduct experiments in an environment that most school districts are not able to support logistically and financially.
Post Secondary Education Option (PSEO) at Community Colleges
In some states, high school students have the opportunity to take courses for college credit while enrolled as a high school student at little or no cost to the student and his or her family. This is often known as the post secondary education option (PSEO) or simply "post secondary."
Many students who do not live within reasonable commuting distance of an approved college or university have the option of taking classes at numerous community colleges. Not only do these students receive college credit toward a future degree at the community college or another institution, but students also complete high school graduation requirements.
In addition, community colleges may also sponsor pre-college programming for local high school students, or may be a hosting institution for one of the United States Department of Education's TRIO programs.
Community College Partnerships
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, forty-three percent of all undergraduate students enrolled during the fall 2007 term were students at a community college. In addition, community colleges grant over 900,000 associate degrees and professional certificates each year to students from all backgrounds and areas of study.
Community colleges may also create partnerships with public or private colleges and universities to allow credits taken at the community college, either as a summer course or as a part of a degree program, to transfer with full credit value towards a bachelors degree at the four-year institution. These colleges may also share other resources, such as faculty, facilities, and research grants and projects.
Project SAIL and the Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources (CCCOER,) sponsored by the League for Innovation in the Community College, are two programs that help community colleges share information and resources for the benefit of both students and community college faculty.
Community colleges offer a wealth of resources to the local community and are an integral part of the higher education system in the United States. These institutions not only help students improve academic records and provide learning opportunities for the community, but work together with other colleges and universities on a national level to further higher education for both students and faculty.
