Community College Funding

With the changes in technology and industry that have occurred as America shifts into the Information Age, more and more Americans have recognized the importance of continuing their education. Many manufacturing and production workers have been paid off, downsized, or terminated. More and more, technological skills and capabilities are needed in order to secure gainful employment. Because of this, community colleges are gaining a renewed interest and significance in helping retrain many people seeking different or better paying careers. Traditionally, community colleges' main objective was to prepare students for higher education at colleges and universities. However, its current role has shifted to one of preparing students for the job market. A community college education is one method of qualifying for better paying, high-tech employment. With the expansion of community colleges, many benefits have accrued to society in terms of narrowing the gap between the "haves" and have-nots. While no on doubts the future will continue to see an expansion of the role community colleges play in this equation, there are plenty of doubts regarding the funding of community colleges. The funding of community colleges has created a great deal of controversy because many argue they should not be funded through tax-dollars (like public education) and should be privately funded. Others contend the state and federal govern

Related Essays

American Community College .... and Civic Life," says that because of the confusing state of education today, its needs, its funding, its effectiveness, the community college more than ever .... (1396 6 )

The Community College .... The community colleges have had to deal with a state-imposed funding cap, and as a result the 107 community college campuses were forced to dip into their .... (2854 11 )

Native American Higher Education .... public institutions and on America's community colleges and .... Native American teachers on the college level (Indian .... The funding will be used to "support and train .... (1227 5 )

Helping schools and business shake hands .... what occurs if participating students do not complete this community college-level work .... This article provides an analysis of public school funding in New Jersey .... (1578 6 )

California's Budget Crisis .... The community colleges have had to deal with a state-imposed funding cap, and as a result the 107 community college campuses were forced to dip into their .... (1931 8 )

llocations to further any particular type of education. As one opponent of this aspect of Minnesota's funding system states, "There is no requirement that funds designated as continuing education funds by the Minnesota Community College system, at the state level, be used that way" (Kaufman 3). Regardless of the funding system or source of funding, few quality studies exist with respect to the efficacy of funding with regard to student completion rates. Texas Community College, however, recently conducted a study whose purpose was to determine the relationship between the amount of funding received from students and program rates of completion. The study also sought to uncover whether different levels of revenue from students changed the amount of monies allocated to different expenditures, and if these allocations had any significant impact on completion rates. The test measured twenty-six variables, including revenue variables, functional variables, campus size, and output (degrees and certificates granted) variables. The study's findings have important implications for the funding of community colleges: Results of the twenty-six variables indicated that more adequately funded community colleges had higher program complet

Category: Economics - C