The Early Benefits of Community College

Contributed by Christine Gaudinski
Christine began teaching at Aims Community College in August 2007. She earned a B.A. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from LaSalle University and an M.A. in Chemistry with an emphasis in Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She also completed advanced graduate study in chemistry at Colorado State University.

Over my career as a full-time faculty member at a community college, I have heard many people discuss the advantages and disadvantages of attending community college. I’d like to share some thoughts on the benefits of attending community college.

Each community college is situated in a community. As such, the community college is perfectly positioned to address the needs of the local community it serves. Community colleges are often comprehensive institutions. This means that they offer a variety of classes and programs designed for specific audiences. Some degrees prepare students to transfer to a four-year college or university while others prepare students for jobs in career and technical fields (for example: welding, automotive, cosmetology) or for jobs as first responders and health professions (including paramedic, pharmacy technician, dental hygiene). Many community colleges offer continuing education classes which provide an opportunity for community members to take classes in areas of personal interest (examples include painting, gardening, fitness classes). A community college is a vibrant place designed to meet the formal and informal educational needs of the members in the community.

Let’s focus on the formal education aspects here. Some formal education in programs are designed to train students for a specific job immediately after completing the program (for example: automotive, certified nursing assistant). Other formal education programs focus on preparing students to transfer to a four-year college or university – a four-year school. I would like to focus on those programs.

A community college generally offers classes designed for the first two years of most undergraduate programs, that is, it offers classes generally taken by students during their freshman and sophomore years of college. Students who attend community college can earn their Associate’s degree before transferring to a four-year school. The coursework requirements for an Associate’s degree may be used to fulfill the coursework requirements for a Bachelor’s degree.

The advantages of taking classes at a community college include:

• extra-curricular activities (student clubs and organizations) where students can get involved with the college community

  ·       services and programs designed to address the needs of “non-traditional” students

  ·       faculty who are experts in their fields

  ·       faculty who are focused on teaching

  ·       course schedules which include night and weekend classes

  ·       courses which transfer directly to a four-year school

  ·       lower tuition and fees than four-year schools

  ·       smaller class sizes than at many larger four-year schools

Many community colleges have formal agreements with the four-year schools in their service areas. These agreements ensure that classes transfer from the community college to the four-year school. This means that students do not lose coursework or credits – or time and money – when they transfer from the community college to the four-year school. Data for selected community colleges show that students who transfer from community colleges to four-year schools do as well as “native” students (those students who started at the four-year school).

One word of advice: It is essential for community college students to meet with an advisor to discuss their academic and career goals – ideally before the start of the first semester. It is also important for students to identify a major (if the community college allows that) and a four-year school (or two) where they would like to transfer. Degree requirements often vary dramatically between four-year schools. Identifying a four-year institution to which to transfer can help students tailor the classes they take at the community college to the degree program they hope to pursue at the four-year school. Meeting with an advisor can help students stay on track academically.

Once students transfer to a four-year school, their academic paths are wide open. Students may continue on to graduate or professional school or enter the workforce after graduation.

Community colleges prepare students who plan to transfer to four-year schools well. The community colleges offer things – including lower tuition, smaller class size, flexible course schedules, and student support services – not commonly found at four-year schools. I hope you will consider learning more about the community college in your area. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you learn!